Ewing Jr. misses final cut with Knicks

For the second time in three years, Patrick Ewing Jr. was the final cut from the Knicks' roster. The son of the Hall of Fame center was placed on waivers Sunday by the team, which had until 5 p.m. Monday to cut the roster to 15 players. The Knicks open the regular season Wednesday against the Raptors in Toronto.

Ewing Jr., 26, was the final cut in 2008-09, when the team opted to keep expensive, out-of-favor veterans such as Stephon Marbury and Jerome James. This time Ewing Jr. was edged out by training-camp invitee Shawne Williams and another expensive, out-of-favor veteran in Eddy Curry, who has not been able to play since the second day of camp because of a hamstring injury.

Though on most teams the 15th man is someone who won't dress for most games, most fans viewed Ewing Jr.'s presence on the roster as good karma, especially considering the distance his father has had from the franchise. Ewing Sr., an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, was upset when the Knicks didn't call him for an interview before the team hired Mike D'Antoni.

Ewing Jr., who sat out the 2009-10 season with a knee injury, couldn't wear his father's retired No. 33, which hangs from the Garden rafters, but did proudly take up residence in his father's famous stall in the Knicks' locker room at the Garden during the preseason. He spoke honestly about his chances to make the team a few weeks ago. "I just want to go out there and work as hard as I can and leave it up to them," he said. "If they want me here, they'll have me here. If they don't, that's just how it is."

Once he clears waivers, Ewing Jr. will be a free agent and could opt to return to the D-League, where he played in 2008-09, or go overseas. With a roster spot open, the Magic could consider bringing him in. Ewing Jr. played for the Magic in the NBA Summer League.

Williams, 24, the 2006 first- round pick of the Indiana Pacers (a choice Donnie Walsh was involved in), was chosen mainly because of his offensive skills, which on a team that has struggled with offense in the preseason is more valuable than Ewing Jr.'s athleticism and defensive potential.

The Knicks have given Williams a chance to revive his career after several off-the-court issues. Williams will earn $885,120, the league minimum for a fourth-year veteran. The contract won't be fully guaranteed until Jan. 5.

"I've followed D'Antoni's system for a long time," Williams said. "I've seen this system has gotten a lot of people paid."

Add one more to the list.

Notes & quotes: The team also took care of some other business when the contract options for Danilo Gallinari, Anthony Randolph and Toney Douglas were picked up.

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