Two years after the Knicks drafted Renaldo Balkman to a chorus of boos and barrage of pundits’ mockery, they traded him Monday to the Denver Nuggets for guard Taurean Green, forward Bobby Jones and a second-round draft pick in 2010. The Knicks also gave the Nuggets an undisclosed amount of cash.
Isiah Thomas, the former Knicks coach, said he drafted Balkman 20th over all in 2006 because he was concerned that if he had not, Balkman might have been nabbed by the Phoenix Suns, coached by Mike D’Antoni, now the Knicks’ coach.
In two seasons with the Knicks, the 6-foot-8 Balkman, who became one of the team’s most popular players among fans, often impressed with his energetic defense, but he averaged only 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 65 games last season.
His numbers as a rookie were slightly better — 4.3 rebounds and 4.9 points — but his lack of progress on offense, combined with a crowd at his position, made him little more than a role player. (...)
