Kentucky's Big Man Now a Knick

Randolph Morris, formerly (like yesterday) a Junior at the University of Kentucky is now a member of the New York Knicks. Not in the near future. Not in some wink-nod deal. Not waiting for the NBA draft. Now. As in, he signed a free agent deal with the Knicks today.

Randolph Morris entered the NBA draft back in 2005 after his freshman season. He did not sign with an agent, and went completely undrafted. Morris was able to return to Kentucky -- after Tubby Smith happened to find the missing paper work a few months later in a desk drawer -- the NCAA had him sit out the 2005-06 non-con portion of the season but resume playing for Kentucky.

Morris played very solidly this past season, but an oddity of the latest NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement made Morris ineligible for the NBA Draft -- instead he was a free agent. He could have signed any time this season with a team and left Kentucky.

After Tubby Smith left Kentucky for Minnesota, Morris decided to leave for the NBA. The Athletic Director of Kentucky implored him to wait on that decision until the Wildcats had a new coach. Considering Kentucky has indicated that they are not going to rush the decision, Morris apparently saw no reason to wait around to see what happened. He took the money now, though it is not clear when he will be suiting up for games with the Knicks.

Previously on Fanhouse:
How to Beat the NBA Draft