KNICK NOTES
Not that it matters which Spanish team Milos Vujanic plays for next season, but the Knicks’ point-guard-of-the-future is headed for Barcelona, not Real Madrid, according to well-placed sources.
The Post reported Friday that Vujanic had agreed to a two-year deal with a “famous European club,” according to his agent Goran Ristanovic, and would not play for the Knicks for at least one more year. Ristanovic refused to name the club but speculation was Vujanic had agreed to play for Real Madrid.
Though the agent had talks with Real Madrid and a Greek team, Vujanic decided on Barcelona, which is headed by his Yugoslavian national team coach Svetislav Pesic.
The deal calls for Vujanic to make $1.07 million each season and has an out after one year. Unlike the NBA, a player can negotiate a future contract even when he is under contract with another club. Vujanic plays for Partizan of the Yugoslavian League. Its season ends in early June.
While the Knicks can handle Vujanic not coming next season, the prospect of him staying the full two years would be devastating. Ristanovic said there’s a chance he would stay the full two years, saying, “We want to say to New York fans and the Knicks that when he’s 24 or 25, when he has some money in his pocket, he’ll come to the NBA.”
Vujanic will be 23 next season.
Clippers rookie point guard Marko Jaric thinks Vujanic could be making a mistake since the Knicks don’t have a point guard star currently on their roster, but may make a pitch for one if they think Vujanic is two years away.
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As expected, Othella Harrington was placed on the injured list and Lavor Postell was activated last night before the Knicks’ 99-95 over the Hawks.
Harrington, who had missed three straight games, has plantar fasciaitis and the Knicks would like to showcase some of their younger talent. However, Don Chaney still wasn’t committing to big minutes to rookie point guard Frank Williams, Postell or Lee Nailon despite being on the verge of mathematical elimination.
“The No. 1 goal is still to win,” Chaney said. “We’re trying to still win games first. Our starters will still play but they won’t get 40-minute games. I’ll use them only if they’re beating teams or the other way. I’m not going to guarantee them X amount of minutes. We still want to finish strong.”
The Knicks have five more wins than last season, when they were 30-52 . . . Houston has scored 20-plus in 50 of 78 games.
