EDITOR’S NOTE 10/28: Chris Copeland ended up being the only training camp invite to make the Knicks’ 15-man roster after Oscar Bellfield, John Shurna, Henry Sims and Mychel Thompson were all waived on Saturday.
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The evidence of Knicks coach Mike Woodson’s trust in rookie Chris Copeland was clearly on display during the final seconds of regulation Wednesday night against the Nets at Nassau Coliseum.
With the game tied at 86-86, Woodson called for the 6-foot-8 Copeland to attack the basket and take a potential game-winning shot. Copeland never was able to get the shot off but he did finish with a team-best 16 points in the team’s 97-95 overtime win.
Woodson said he expected to meet with Knicks GM Glen Grunwald on Thursday about cuts and the team’s final roster, and Copeland appears to be in very strong shape to fill out a final spot on the roster along with Rasheed Wallace.
That would mean that training camp invites Henry Sims, John Shurna, Mychel Thompson and Oscar Bellfield would all get cut
“Yea, I’m optimistic but you never know what they’re looking for,” Copeland told SNY.tv following the game. “I’m excited, I’m blessed to have the opportunity all together. I’d love to be here.”
Woodson clearly likes Copeland’s ability to score the basketball.
“If we decide to keep Copeland, there’s a guy who can score the ball as well,” he said pre-game. “So I feel good in that area. Until Amar’e [Stoudemire] gets back in uniform, [scoring] has gotta come from someone.”
The Knicks front line is banged up, which should help Copeland’s chances of making the roster. Stoudemire (knee) is out 2-3 weeks. Tyson Chandler suffered a bruised knee in the first quarter of the game. And Marcus Camby (calf) and Wallace (conditioning) have both been out.
“Absolutely, I think I can help out at every position,” Copeland said when asked if the injuries helped his chances. “That’s the one thing: you can put me in at the 2, the 5. I try to play every position. I have played every position except point guard at some point. So I think he could use me wherever he would like to. It’s just I don’t know what they want to do at the end of the day.”
Copeland played at Colorado but he wouldn’t be the most famous former Buffalo in the NBA if he makes the final roster.
That honor belongs to former Knicks point guard Chauncey Billups.
“Chauncey, that’s my guy,” Copeland said with a smile, “Chauncey’s carrying everything for sure.”
Photo: NJ.com
