A league source told Insider this weekend that GM Garry St. Jean has been trying to find a taker for Danny Fortson. At this point, the Warriors understand they won't be able to get a starting caliber player in return. Instead, they're trying to find ways to get some cap room. That explains their most recent offer to the Knicks this weekend -- Fortson and Chris Mills for Charlie Ward and Travis Knight.

That should be a hard one for Knicks GM Scott Layden to pass on. While adding another undersized power forward isn't a need (the Knicks already have Clarence Weatherspoon and Othella Harrington), moving Ward and Knight for a player who is a top five rebounder in the NBA is a no-brainer. The Knicks could use Antonio McDyess at center, especially versus the East, and put Fortson at the four. That trade would give Layden the green light to move Kurt Thomas for a real point guard.

While neither Ward nor Knight could be expected to have a major impact in Golden State, their contracts both expire in two years, clearing about $6 million in cap room in 2004. The move would also free up room for Antawn Jamison to start at power forward. Jamison spent much of last season complaining that he was playing out of position at the three. With the addition of Mike Dunleavy this summer, the Warriors have the luxury now of giving Jamison time at the four.

That won't happen, however, as long as Fortson is still on the roster. "He was the fourth leading rebounder in the NBA last season," one league source said. "The Warriors can't afford to have him on bench, feeling disgruntled. They'll play him until they can find someone who wants him."

Ward and Knight for Fortson and Mills is a steal. It makes our team more disfunctional, but we get so much talent in return it's just a no brainer. Thoughts?

I think the Knicks have to jump on this trade. I don't even think they should trade for a PG. Eisley (I think I'm the only one on the planet that still has confidence in him) and Williams could run a PG by committee. I'd love to keep KT around, because now he can give up those stupid fouls. Bring in Fortson off the bench, but give him the majority of time. Layden's got to do this trade.

P.S. I would like this trade if we could play talent, not position. In other words, we don't need a true center and a point guard, at least not this year.

This is a weird trade for NY. For Fortson to prove his worth and snare rebounds, he has to get minutes. At least 20-30. And to be effective, he has to get them either at the 3, or more preferably, the 4. 2 names: McDyess, Spree. Add a couple of more names: Weatherspoon, Othella, Anderson. This is making the assumption that Thomas plays the center spot (there is NO WAY Dice plays the 5). Unless this deal is made to facilitate another deal, it just doesn't make sense.

Fortson is probably the second best blue collar player in the NBA behind Ben Wallace. Per 48 minutes he's the best rebounder in the league and he's one of the best at guarding bigger players in the league. This deal makes us more deep at a position we are already too deep at, but it's too good to pass up.

Fortson Ranks #1 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(19.5)
Mills is a very smart player who rebounds, has a good outside shot, and can play the 2 or the 3. Also, he's a good defender. If the Knicks do that, and make no other moves your rotation looks like this:
pg Williams/Eisley (yes, FW beats out Howard for the start in camp)
sg Houston/Postel/Anderson
sf Sprewell/Mills
pf McDyess/Weatherspoon/Harrington
c Thomas/Fortson/Doleac

Bench minutes will go to Fortson/Mills/Weatherspoon/Postel/Eisley
Harrington/Anderson/Doleac will struggle for minutes and get many a DNPs.

Its a decent linup. Fortson and Mills give you one of the better benches in the East, obviously something that was terrible last year. GOD LAYDEN, IF THE RUMOR IS TRUE PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!!!

Fortson is nearly all-star material in the east and will start and Mills is an upgrade over Shandon Anderson. I just can't see anyone being stupid enough to pass up on this deal if it's indeed offered to the team.

it makes us shorter?!?! How do you figure? Because Travis Knight is no longer on the roster the Knicks somehow lose some size advantage? PA-LEEZE!!!
You wouldnt trade Ward and Knight for Fortson and Mills? Thats just nuts. Both guys would come off the bench. Fortson would get minutes at center and pf and Mills can play the 2 or 3. As far as contracts Mills is up in two years, the same as Knight and Ward. Fortson is long term, but he's 26 and one of the league's best rebounders. I dont know what else to tell you. Two guys the Knicks dont need for two guys they really need.....hmmm

On the size issue, do we have anyone who can play SF or SG thats taller than 6'6? Because Chris Mills is.

How do you feel about Antonio Davis or Ben Wallace? Those guys seem to play effective minutes at center last season, both under 6'9. People fall so in love with height...this deal just makes the roster better

But the backups would be:
PG-Williams 6'3"
SG-Anderson 6'6"
SF-Weatherspoon 6'7"
PF-Thomas 6'9"
C- Doleac 6'11"

Fritz, I can't see why you wouldn't want this. The Knicks trade two guys who won't contribute next year for one of the top rebounders in the game and an expiring contract. What's not to love?

This trade is the no-brainer of no-brainers. people who keep touting dampier don't even understand basketball. Erick dampier is 6-11 260 and pulls down a whole 5 rebounds a game to go along with 6 points for a 7MM dollar salary. he shoots 40% from the field and 50% from the foul line and doesnt have a heartbeat. he S7cks.

Now Danny Fortson is a thug baller who is the best rebounder in the NBA per 48mts 26 years old and makes 5mm a year. Chris Mills would be the best offensive bench player we have-- and he has an expiring contract for 5mm next year. this opens up the opportunity to move Thomas for a need or Thomas and some dead weight salaries.


Layden destroyed the team when he traded for eisley andersen and signed weatherspoon. By God GS is giving them a way out of some of the crappier ball players and perhaps more to come.

the bottom line is you are adding a benz and an audi for a chevy and a ford pinto i dont care what his position is the talent of the deal is way to much to pass up. jerry west said it best accumualte talent first then sort it out later. I would say the best rebounder in the NBA has a world of talent and a new home back in the thuglands of MSG might just invigorate his play on top of that. Fortson===the new and improved mason.


and one more time you cheeseburgers who keep talking about adonal foyle and dampuer for goodness sakes watch just one of their games they have averaged 20 wins a season for 5 years we dont want the team we want 1 player and an expiring contract who can help off the bench for sht players.

Fortson doesn't want to start, he wants to play. If you play Thomas for 25 great minutes, where he can use up all of his stupid fouls, then have Forston play 30-35 (obviously some time he and Thomas will be out there together), this team won't have a height problem.

If Williams beats out Eisley in training camp, the starters will be 6'3", 6'6", 6'5", 6'9", and 6'9". Then add 6'2", 6'7", 6'7", 6'8", and 6'11" off the bench, that's not a small team. You can have all 6 footers and still not have a small team.

-Point guard wouldn't be small with guys 6'2" and 6'3".
-On the wings you'd have guys that are 6'6", 6'5", 6'7", 6'7", and then Anderson, who probably wouldn't get time, at 6'6". That's decent height. Not a tall perimeter, but decent.
-Power forwards of 6'9" and 6'8", not to mention two great athletes.
-Centers of 6'9" and 6'11", however one can defend the post very well, the other is well built and won't get pushed around.

The Knicks would have three scorers (Houston, Sprewell, McDyess), a great rebounder (Fortson) and a pretty good rebounder (Weatherspoon), someone who can defend the low post (Thomas), and a decent backup at center (Doleac.)

If the Knicks pulled the trigger, that team would give us an edge over the other wildcards trying to make the playoffs (76ers, Heat, Hawks, etc.)

And, just to get it out of me, imagine what damage JVG would do with this lineup of McDyess and Fortson downlow, and a supposed ballhawk in Williams at PG. We can only wonder.