user: Dan Gadzuric, a Veteran Center, Lands With the Knicks

CLEVELAND — Knicks Coach Mike Woodson described the newest Knick, Dan Gadzuric, in less than flattering terms: “A veteran big that’s been around, that can use fouls, rebound and defend.” A similar description could be made of the player he’s essentially replacing.

Considering how crucial defense is for this Knicks team, however, Woodson’s description could also be seen as a compliment.

The Knicks signed Gadzuric, a 6-foot-11, 34-year-old center, and waived Bill Walker before Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and had Gadzuric had more time to learn the playbook, the Knicks could’ve used him in their lackadaisical 98-90 loss.

“My role is not different than what I used to do in the past: provide a lot of energy,” Gadzuric said. “Obviously, I want to improve my game, but what got me here was a lot of energy, rebounding the ball and blocking shots and playing defense and just being all over the court.”

Woodson said the move was precautionary in case Jared Jeffries’s sore right knee doesn’t respond to the rest Woodson now can afford to give him. Jeffries sat out a second straight game Friday due to the knee.

“It’s not like anything different,” Jeffries said. “It’s just wear and tear; my knee swells up. I just have to get the swelling off my knee.’’

In the past, Jeffries said rest usually worked, but he couldn’t say whether he would be back in time for the playoffs.

“I want to just be healthy, man,” Jeffries said.

A nine-year veteran, Gadzuric spent eight years with the Milwaukee Bucks before splitting the 2010-11 season between Golden State and the Nets. Like J.R. Smith, Gadzuric had been playing in the Chinese Basketball Association earlier this season. Smith told reporters that the two did play each other; Smith’s team won, but Gadzuric dominated Smith’s team, he said.

Gadzuric said: “It was very different, but it was a good experience. Got the opportunity to play a lot of minutes and meet a lot of guys who are from different cultures.”

But Gadzuric injured his left foot while playing overseas, which forced his team, Jiangsu, to release him, he said, because it was unsure when he would be able to return. Gadzuric returned to the United States and eventually signed with the Texas Legends of the N.B.A.’s D-League, to get in condition, bide his time and wait for an opportunity to return to the N.B.A. Against other players fighting for N.B.A. roster spots, Gadzuric played in 12 games, averaging 12 points and 11.3 rebounds in more than 25 minutes a game.

By Thursday, Gadzuric — who has career averages of 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game — knew he would be a Knick. Woodson said Gadzuric would be eligible for the playoffs.

Woodson said Walker never really had a chance to get healthy after elbow surgery last month. Walker sat and watched, rehabbing, as the Knicks underwent another transformation, leaving little room for him in the rotation, even if he were healthy.

Woodson said the Knicks may “revisit” the idea of bringing Walker back this summer, when he’ll be a healthier free agent.

Summary: Dan Gadzuric, a 6-foot-11 center and the newest member of the Knicks, said his role would be to "provide a lot of energy.''


Problem: The Best Black Friday Camera Deals

Holiday shopping for the shutterbug in your life? Or looking for a sweet new rig for yourself? These are the best Black Friday camera deals we’ve seen so far.

Canon EOS Rebel T6 with 18-55mm and 75-300mm lenses, $449.99 at Best Buy

This is a great starter DSLR for anyone looking to go beyond shooting on their smartphone. The two included lenses cover everything from wide-angle to telephoto, enabling you to experiment with lots of different styles. Buy now

Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm lens (refurbished), $399.95 at Amazon

If you think you’d prefer Nikon (or if someone you know has Nikon lenses you can borrow), here’s another great entry-level DSLR. Don’t worry about it being refurbished — camera makers ensure the refurb gear they sell is up to snuff, making it a great way to save some money. Buy now

DJI Phantom 3 Standard, $369 at Walmart

DJI is hands-down the world’s best drone maker. But you need not spend ~$1,000 on the company’s latest and greatest gear for your aerial photography needs. The entry-level Phantom 3 Standard has all you need to get started with drone flying, and it’s a steal at this price. (Note the Phantom 3 Standard only records up to 2.7K video. If you want true 4K, you’ll be paying extra, but you don’t need that unless you’re making professional-level content.) Get In-Stock Alert

GoPro HERO5 Black with $60 Gift Card, $399.99 at Target

Target isn’t knocking any money off the price of the best action camera GoPro’s ever made, but it’s sweetening the deal with a $60 gift card. That’s enough to get a selfie stick, a couple memory cards, or lots of other accessories. Buy now

Sony a6000 with 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses, $699.99 at Best Buy

Lots of photography hobbyists, including yours truly, have swapped their clunky DSLRs for slimmer, easier-to-carry mirrorless cameras. The Sony a6000 was released a couple years back, but it’s still a great buy — especially with two included lenses that cover such a wide range. Buy now

Fujifilm Instax mini 8 Instant Film Camera, $59.99 at Best Buy

Polaroid-style instant film is on the rise again, as people remember it can be nice to hold an actual photograph rather than just post something to Instagram. One of the best ways to get back into film is with Fuji’s mini 8, a fun shooter that’s designed to create keepsakes, not fine art. Buy now

Write a one or two sentence summary.

Summary:

assistant: From drones to DSLRs