The Knicks have a big decision to make with Charlie Ward after the season because of a buy-out clause in the point guard’s contract.
If team brass believes its second-round stud, Milos Vujanic of Yugoslavia, is ready to contribute next season, it makes perfect sense to buy out Ward’s final year at a relatively cheap $2 million. Only $2 million of Ward’s $6 million wage next season is guaranteed.
Having Ward on the roster next season along with Howard Eisley, who’s untradeable; disappointing rookie Frank Williams; and Vujanic seems impossible, especially if Vujanic is either ready to start or at least be in the rotation.
And there’s no reason to believe he won’t be ready to start next season. The 23-year-old is considered the best point guard in Europe, and the Knicks received multiple trade offers for him days after the draft. He’s averaging 25 points for his Yugoslavian team, KK Partizan, which is owned by Vlade Divac. Vujanic, an excellent long-range shooter, is connecting at 46 percent.
Ward is making $5.75 million this season, and unless the Knicks get a good big man in return, they aren’t eager to deal him because of his payroll-friendly pact. Ward should be attractive for a cost-cutting club at the Feb. 20 trade deadline because of his buyout clause.
It did seem peculiar that coach Don Chaney still didn’t return Ward to his starting role last night, though it’s obvious Ward is close to 100 percent. He scored 12 points with five assists in 25 minutes.
Chaney said he didn’t want to hurt Eisley’s confidence. Maybe Chaney knows Eisley – and his seven-year, $40M deal – will be around a lot longer than Ward.