Fansided

5 biggest free-agent mistakes in New York Knicks history

By Lior Lampert

Mar 30, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Knicks guard Raymond Felton (2) talks with forward Amare Stoudemire (1) during a timeout against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Knicks guard Raymond Felton (2) talks with forward Amare Stoudemire (1) during a timeout against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHICAGO – NOVEMBER 28: Stephon Marbury #3 of the New York Knicks talks with Eddy Curry #34 as they walk up court against the Chicago Bulls November 28, 2006 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 102-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO – NOVEMBER 28: Stephon Marbury #3 of the New York Knicks talks with Eddy Curry #34 as they walk up court against the Chicago Bulls November 28, 2006 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 102-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

3.  Eddy Curry

Drafted with the fourth overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft, Eddy Curry was highly touted coming into the NBA. Born in Illinois, it was a dream come true for Curry to end up being selected by his hometown Chicago Bulls. However, it was discovered that Curry may have a complicated heart condition which prompted the Bulls to request a DNA test that he ultimately declined to take.

Failure to cooperate with the Bulls’ requests led to Curry being shipped off to the Knicks to play in the World’s Most Famous Arena. As a result of the trade, Curry and the Knicks agreed to a contract for six years and $60 million.

In Curry’s first two seasons with the team, he showed signs of what made him a McDonald’s All-American in high school. Appearing in 81 of 82 games, he averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds per game for the Knicks at just 24 years old.

Similarly to Jerome James, Curry began to have a tough time keeping up with NBA conditioning, weighing as much as 350 pounds during his career. Curry was never able to get back into shape, resulting in him playing a total of 26 games from 2008-2013.

Alas, Eddy Curry turned out to appear in fewer games than all-time NBA bust and fellow 2001 draft class member, Kwame Brown. Curry had big shoes to fill because the Knicks were still feeling the vacuum left by Patrick Ewing’s departure after the 1999 season — making him one of the three biggest free-agent mistakes in Knicks history.

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