Curry has knee surgery, will be out six weeks

Knicks center Eddy Curry is still having problems with his surgically repaired knee. (File photo, 2009) Credit: Kathy Kmonicek
If the Knicks had hoped to trade Eddy Curry before the Feb. 18 deadline, those chances essentially were wiped out with yesterday's announcement that Curry had surgery on his left knee while the Knicks were playing the Pistons and will be out of action for six weeks.
Curry, who hasn't played since Dec. 17 in Chicago, was put on the inactive list Friday because of soreness in the knee. An MRI revealed loose cartilage, and he had an arthroscopic debridement to remove the cartilage.
Curry had the same procedure on his right knee in March 2008 and missed the final 20 games. Since then, he has appeared in only 10 games, including seven this season.
Aside from spot minutes early in losses at Charlotte and Chicago, Curry has never been a consistent part of Mike D'Antoni's rotation. When he returns in early March, that is not likely to change, especially if the Knicks are in the playoff hunt.
The next decision may be what to do with Curry during the offseason. He certainly is not going to exercise the opt-out in his contract and walk away from the $11.2 million guaranteed to him for 2010-11. The Knicks, who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday, could try to trade him as an expiring contract for a player with a longer-term deal or simply negotiate a buyout.
Hughes frustrated
Larry Hughes laughed at a report that said he "bolted" from Sunday's practice - "I was in the back, man," he said - and added that his lack of playing time leaves him "frustrated, no anger. Anger makes you do stupid things."
Hughes, who did not play Monday after an 8:24 stint in Saturday's loss to the Pistons, again criticized D'Antoni for a lack of communication with players and said he didn't want to be the one to go to the coach about playing time because "I don't want it to look like it's a thing like I'm complaining."
D'Antoni said he understands his frustration "but it doesn't change anything. I'm going to play the guys that I think can help us win. Pretty simple."
Regarding his collection of complaining players (Hughes, Curry, Darko Milicic), D'Antoni added: "Guys will squawk. You win 60 games and they'll squawk. If the shrimp cocktail's not right on the plane, they'll squawk."