| | Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- It wasn't the criticism from the fans
or the media that drove Patrick Ewing out of New York, it was the disloyalty of the Knicks organization.
|  | | The departure of Patrick Ewing, left, leaves the Knicks vulnerable in the physical Eastern Conference. |
That's the way Alonzo Mourning sees it, and he should know. Mourning is one of Ewing's best friends and has been talking with
him regularly on the phone.
"The bottom line is he felt totally disrespected and he felt it
was time for him to move on," Mourning said. "Considering that, I
know that he's happy now that he can leave and get away from all
the negative energy that he was around and can finish his career
possibly on a good note."
Ewing's 15-year career with the Knicks came to an end Wednesday
when he was dealt to Seattle as part of a four-team, 12-player
trade. Ewing had requested a trade earlier this summer after he
learned New York was shopping him.
In Ewing's mind, according to Mourning, that was the final straw
convincing Ewing it was time to move on.
"He wanted to finish out his career there, I'm almost sure of
that. But when you're around people that don't want you around,
then you don't want to be there yourself," Mourning said.
"They pushed him to the side, they criticized him -- not just
the media, not just the fans, but the organization didn't back him.
You would think the people in the front office would back him
before anybody, and to think that they would consider trading him
was disappointing to him.
"It's upsetting to think he would have to go through that with
an organization that he put his heart and soul into."
The trade brought the Knicks six players, including Glen Rice,
Luc Longley, Travis Knight and Vernon Maxwell, and four draft
picks. But they are left without a top-level center, which could be
a huge problem if they have to get past Miami and Mourning in the
playoffs again.
Although his usefulness was often questioned during their
Eastern Conference finals loss to the Indiana Pacers, many in New
York quickly forgot that the Knicks would have never gotten past
Miami in the second round without Ewing.
"They lost a big presence down low," Miami's Tim Hardaway
said. "Seattle got themselves a hell of a ballplayer."
With the Indiana Pacers having lost Mark Jackson, Dale Davis and
Chris Mullin, and with the Knicks having traded the one player in
the conference who consistently neutralized Mourning, it now
appears that the Heat will be the favorites to come out of the
East.
Then again, the Knicks could have another move in mind to bring
in a center.
As things stand, they have a glut at the small forward and
shooting guard positions with Rice, Latrell Sprewell, Allan
Houston, Maxwell and Erick Strickland.
"I don't know if they'll go into training camp with those three
guys (Rice, Sprewell and Houston). I just don't see it," Hardaway
said. "If they pick up (Dikembe) Mutombo then we'll be worried.
"If they don't, there's going to be a lot of controversy, a lot
of unhappy campers on that team. Glen likes the ball, Allan likes
the ball, Spree likes the ball. You're going to have all three of
them out there together? I don't know. Jeff (Van Gundy) has his
work cut out for him."
What Van Gundy won't have, however, is the headache of having a
player in camp who doesn't want to be there.
That would have been the case if Ewing hadn't been traded,
although it wouldn't have been the case if the Knicks hadn't
shopped Ewing.
In Mourning's opinion, that was the one event that started the
parties toward their divorce.
"You would think that they would want him to end his career
there, extend him two more years to make sure he retired as a
Knick," Mourning said. "The people in the Knicks organization
have proven -- and this goes all the way back to Pat Riley -- their
lack of loyalty.
"Riles wanted to be there in New York, but based on the way
they treated him he felt it was time for him to go. That's pretty
much the same thing Patrick is going through."
| |
ALSO SEE
Sonics get Ewing in four-team, 12-player deal
Aldridge: Sadly, Ewing divorce is official
Lakers pleased to get Grant, and rid of Rice
Suns get Dudley from Knicks
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's David Aldridge breaks down the four-team deal that sends Patrick Ewing to Seattle.
RealVideo: 28.8
 Sonics coach Paul Westphal is happy to have Patrick Ewing on his team.
wav: 86 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Patrick Ewing thought he would finish his career as a Knick. (John Thompson Show at Sports Talk 980)
wav: 322 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Sonics GM Wally Walker is happy to have a proven leader on his team.
wav: 175 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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