LAS VEGAS — The most important summer development for the Knicks occurred here at Valley High School last night. A slimmed-down, more-limber Eddy Curry joined the Knicks’ summer-league team on the practice court, dunked with ease and moved with grace and agility.
According to team president Donnie Walsh, the 6-foot-11 Curry has lost 30 pounds since he began a new training regimen in Detroit, and you could see it in his face — a taut jaw reminiscent of his rookie year with the Bulls.
There is now hope Curry will be a genuine part of this Knicks team. At the very least, he could become a tradable commodity if Walsh needs more cap space for 2010.
“It’s definitely different,” Curry said after the practice in which he did not scrimmage. “My body just reacts a lot faster. Before everything I did was real calculated. Now it’s instant.”
Curry’s look was completely different, too, sporting no cornrows and a short, neat haircut.
“I was just glad to be out there in a Knicks uniform,” he added.
Two years ago, Curry was in the All-Star Game conversation. Last year the only conversation about Curry was his disgraceful fitness. He just played in three games because of bad knees due in part to weighing close to 345 pounds.
“I just want to make the best of the situation,” Curry said. “I want to salvage these last two years. I want to show the fans in New York and the organization what they brought me here for.”
Curry knows he still could be dealt because his contract extends into the 2010-11 season. But the Knicks desperately can use a center.
“I’m going to be ready, no matter what, whether here, whatever,” Curry said. “I’m going to be ready.”
Curry’s regimen at Oakland University in suburban Detroit has included pool work, lifting weights and strict eating schedules.
“Not playing, not practicing, there isn’t much you can do,” Curry said. “I could’ve become a vegetarian. But when you have certain eating habits and try to eat a certain way, and you’re not burning it off, it accumulates. And the knees keep hurting the heavier you are.”
Earlier in the day, coach Mike D’Antoni said the 26-year-old center is at a crossroads.
“I don’t know about now or never but we’re going to try to make it now,” D’Antoni said. “I think where he is in his career and his age; he’s pretty young. Two more years on his contract, he wants to have a good career. You do come to a fork in the road — a good career, a bad career.”
