CURRY SHINES IN KNICKS WORKOUT
By MARC BERMAN
Stephen Curry didn't sign a contract with the Knicks yesterday at their Westchester compound, but he may have sealed the deal.
During his pre-draft workout, the former Davidson star put on another dazzling shooting exhibition against likely his main competitor, UCLA's Jrue Holiday.
You take hints where they come from during this stage of the draft, and Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni laid one on Curry.
"Before I came in here, Mike D'Antoni walked up to me and told me, 'We can't draft you,' " Curry explained. "I said, 'Oh,why?'
D'Antoni responded, "Because [team executive] Allan Houston said he doesn't want to be the second-best shooter in Knick history."
The Knicks pick eighth on June 25, and, barring an unforeseen drop by Arizona power forward Jordan Hill, Curry is a favorite to become a Knick if he'sstill on the board.
"I was feeling pretty good today," Curry said. "I like this practice facility. My shot was falling very well. Very happy with how it turnedout."
If Curry is gone, Holiday is a definite possibility as D'Antoni believes he has "another gear." But even the normally cocky Holiday indicatedCurry's star shined brighter during their 45-minute tango.
"I did all right," Holiday said. "There's always things you can do better."
Curry prefers teams like Washington (5), Minnesota (6), even Oklahoma City at 3 pass on him. He will work out for Washington next week but hasn't madehimself available yet to the Timberwolves or the Thunder.
When asked if he thinks he'll be available to the Knicks, Curry said, "I hope so. It's great for me to be picked as high as I can, but coming herewould be fun for me. It's the system I've played all my life. Comparing how I played in college to how it translates to the NBA, this is the system tobe in. And Mike knows how to develop point guards."
Curry's game would seem a better complement to LeBron James, who's not a great outside shooter. James could be attracted to a marksman like Curry as hecontemplates his next move after the 2010 season.
Curry is text buddies with James, who met Curry when he attended a Davidson-Wisconsin game. Curry now works at James' summer camp and they text once aweek. "I'll be dropping lines if I come here," Curry said.
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