Donnie Walsh's first move toward debt consolidation for the Knicks was a modest one, but then again, even a hundred-million-dollar journey has to begin with one step.
The Knicks jettisoned Renaldo Balkman yesterday in a trade with Denver that also sent the Nuggets cash considerations and returned a 2010 second-round pick and two fringe players: guard Taurean Green and forward Bobby Jones.
Neither Green nor Jones has a guaranteed contract. Both are expected to be waived, which would clear about $1.3 million in salary-cap space - a mere drop in the bucket in a payroll that is hovering near $100 million - and would bring the Knicks back to the NBA maximum of 15 contracts. (...)