New York Knicks staff likes Earl Barron, the front office is unsure

In 2013, the New York Knicks won a playoff series for the first time in 120 years. Well, at least that’s what it felt like (they actually last won a playoff series in 2000). Still a long time. Rather than being happy and standing pat, the Knicks have made some big moves, most notably acquiring former #1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani from the Toronto Raptors. They re-signed swingman J.R. Smith, point guard Pablo Prigioni and big man Kenyon Martin. They also brought in a solid veteran backup point guard in Beno Udrih, who spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic.

That isn’t quite good enough for the coaching staff, reports Jared Zwerling of Bleacher report.

“The Knicks coaches want Earl, but ownership wants to wait,” a source told Zwerling.

Barron appeared in one game for the Knicks during the 2012-13 season and in 12 games for the Washington Wizards last season. The 32-year old has averaged 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game over the course of his career.

“I think Mike Woodson likes him a lot because of the professionalism he showed this year,” the source said recently. “He went from a vacation—a weekend trip with his family—to flying into D.C., drove to the airport and flew to New York and got in at midnight. He worked out for the coaches at 6 o’clock that morning, took the physical after that and then played 36 minutes that same night, and he had almost 20 boards. Earl kept his body right.”