INDIANAPOLIS — Mike D’Antoni announced yesterday 7-footer Earl Barron will be the Knicks’ starting center for the rest of the season. That means David Lee will finish the final four games at power forward — a position the Knicks want him to play next season if they re-sign him.
Barron had his third straight solid outing in his second straight start last night, racking up 15 points with nine boards in 28:54 despite being in early foul trouble, but he couldn’t prevent the Knicks’ 50th loss.
Behind Danny Granger’s 33 points, the Pacers outgunned the Knicks, 113-105, at Conseco Field House as the Knicks fell to 28-50 — their third straight 50-loss season.
Barron followed up his stunning 17-point, 18-rebound performance in Tuesday’s stunner over the Celtics with a respectable outing. The Knicks were much better with him on the floor as he was a plus-9. Meanwhile, Lee was a team-worst minus-26 despite a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Lee will now have to guard smaller, albeit quicker players, at power forward.
“That’s where [Lee] has to play to be on a good team,” D’Antoni said. “I don’t think he can get away with center all the time.”
While Lee hasn’t made the playoffs, Barron actually owns a championship ring. He hasn’t worn it in a while after being a member of Pat Riley’s 2006 Heat champions.
Barron, 29, was not placed on the playoff roster that season, but was on the scout team, cast in the role of Dirk Nowitzki. That prompted teammates to dub him “Dark” Nowitzki — a joke even Pat Riley got a kick out of.
“I wore it a couple of times, but it’s too big,” Barron said of the ring. “It scratches up the knuckles. Riley went all out. He really wanted to win that championship so bad. He said if we won it, he’s going to make it the most gigantic ring the NBA has ever seen, with the most diamonds. Every time I wear it, people from 30 feet away see it, grab my wrist and say, ‘How’d you get it? What team?’ It’s too much for me.”
Yesterday Barron didn’t mind basking in the attention after toiling in obscurity in the D-League with Iowa until last Friday’s call-up.
“I heard from all my friends pretty much, every way possible, instant messages, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, phone calls text messages,” Barron said.
He appeared in 82 games in three seasons for Miami, 2½ under Riley, whose influence has made Barron think defense first, though so far his offense has been a revelation.
“They pound it into you, the defensive strategy,” Barron said.
If Barron has shown poise and being in top shape (he played 44 minutes vs. Boston), it’s because of Riley.
“He taught me about taking care of my body, being on time, being professional,” Barron said. “He was a real big influence. He’s a tough guy to play for but I learned so much.”
And so now the Knicks audition Barron for next season as cheap labor. No team needs a center like the Knicks. He was the last cut by the Hornets out of training camp.
“We’ll see what happens in the future,” Barron said. “I’ve been waiting all year for a call-up. I wish it would’ve come earlier. But it’s here and I’m making the best of it.”