Chris Copeland was honest with Pacers coach Frank Vogel this week when he told Vogel he would have a tough time playing for the Pacers after battling them in the playoffs with the Knicks and losing.
But that didn’t prevent the Pacers from offering Copeland a two-year, $6 million offer sheet or prevent the Knicks’ 3-point sniper from accepting it yesterday. If you can’t beat them, join them.
Copeland’s Knicks career is over. Though he is a restricted free agent, the Knicks don’t have enough money from their mini mid-level exception to match the offer sheet.
“Seriously, Chris was close to going back to New York for whatever amount,’’ his agent, John Spencer, told The Post. “He said to Coach Vogel, ‘I hate you. You guys beat us.’ He was joking a little, but not really.
“He let the emotional side go and made the right business decision for him.’’
The Knicks already had made the tactical decision of ensuring Pablo Prigioni’s return by giving him $1.5 million of their $3.18 mini mid-level exception. That only left a reported $1.75 million for Copeland, although a league source said it was less. Whatever the figure it was never going to be enough once Indy blew everyone away.
The Knicks likely could have matched offers from the Lakers, Grizzlies and Pelicans if they chose. The Lakers wanted Copeland but had to split their mini mid-level. Indiana had its full $5 million exception.
The Pacers hence became Copeland’s most ardent pursuer. One day into free agency, Indiana sent Copeland a package of goodies that included a doctored ESPN The Magazine cover with Copeland pictured on the cover in a gold Pacers jersey.
“They did a lot of things to understand who he was as a person and went into detail to find out who he was,’’ Spencer said.
They also had the benefit of having general manager Kevin Pritchard and executive Donnie Walsh scout Copeland for all six playoff games. Even Vogel thought Copeland should have played more.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson took heat for not giving more playoff minutes to Copeland, who received two third-place votes for Rookie of the Year. Woodson used him in just three of six games in the Knicks’ opening-round victory over the Celtics. Although Copeland appeared in all six games against the Pacers, some were only in garbage time, as he averaged 11 minutes during the postseason.
“They felt he ripped their [butt] when he played and had to change their style,’’ Spencer said. “He could put it on the floor and shoot. Donnie Walsh felt Chris was an underrated rebounder. They made Chris feel really good and saw in him stuff that was untapped and not fully utilized.”
The Pelicans offered much less money to Copeland after inking Tyreke Evans to an offer sheet. Spencer still thought Copeland would take significantly less to stay in New York rather than play for Indiana.
But as it happened, the Knicks never formally offered Copeland a contract. Perhaps Woodson didn’t want the pressure of fans wanting Copeland, 29, to play more. Even Spike Lee took to Twitter to campaign hard for Copeland’s re-signing.
Woodson yelled at Copeland often during practices and shootarounds, mostly because he didn’t pay enough attention to detail on defense.“Everyone supported Chris in New York,’’ Spencer said of the players. “That’s what makes it hard. All those guys treated Chris like he was the little brother. Carmelo [Anthony], Tyson [Chandler], Jason Kidd, [Raymond] Felton. They guided him. Kept his head up when he wasn’t playing.’’
Knicks European scout Kevin Wilson found a diamond in the rough in the Belgian League. Wilson was the only NBA scout to monitor Copeland that season. Walsh is a big fan of Wilson and knew it was a steal, and now Walsh stole Copeland from the Knicks.
With the Knicks trying to fight off the Pacers in the East, it’s a blow. After beating the Knicks in six games, the Pacers lost to the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
“Having Paul George and Danny Granger, Chris can stretch the floor and create space and make them a more dangerous team,’’ Spencer said. “They think he’s a missing piece to going out and winning a championship.’’