Knicks center Andrea Bargnani (calf) available vs. Heat
New York Knicks center Andrea Bargnani will be available to play tonight against the Miami Heat, the team announced.
Bargnani has not played since Jan. 2. He missed the first 33 games this season dealing with calf and hamstring injuries, and then played the next two games. He re-injured the calf and was forced to miss the next 16 contests.
The oft-injured Bargnani, 29, was traded to the Knicks in the summer of 2013 from the Toronto Raptors and only played in 42 games his first season with the team after tearing ligaments in his left elbow after attempting to dunk. This will be third time in New York's last 92 regular season-games that Bargnani will be available to play.
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Bargnani’s name has been involved in trade rumors recently, with ESPN.com reporting last month that the team is actively trying to deal the 7-footer.
After the team got off to a franchise-worst 5-35 record, New York traded guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cleveland Cavaliers and received Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson from Cleveland and Lance Thomas from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Over his career, Bargnani, who was the first overall pick by the Raptors in the 2006 NBA Draft, has averaged 15 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
The Knicks (10-41) have lost three in row and have the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
- Scooby Axson
