Lol ok one more comment.... if Crawford does come to NY, him and Marbury will create havoc for years to come. No but seriously, I'm tired of speculating on what will happen if we get JC. Lets get Crawford first, then speculate. I just hope we do get him...

I like Crawford and all but The Knicks got all this talent in the summer league that is just really dope you know....

That article about Isiah saying he wants to try to build from the inside.....Guys like DeMarr and Ariza could very well become Jamal Crawford pretty soon. I think besides the fact that Crawford is a up and comming star the Knicks need to more 2 for one 4 for 2 trades just to lighten up the roster and stick in these young guys so they can just reload as time goes on.

I just wish the Knicks could just buyout all of our wack players and just sign all these rookies and go from there. That is just not logical.

I'm gonna stick with what I said though......I doubt a trade happens until the summer league is over. Isiah wants to see if he can use one of these players especially if he decides to part ways with say Frank Williams, etc.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/209642p-180661c.html
Knicks working
on Crawford deal

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Jamal Crawford remains a realistic target for the Knicks this summer as Isiah Thomas and Bulls general manager John Paxson exchanged trade proposals yesterday for the second time in four days.

But while Thomas appears to be closing in on Crawford, all the rumors and innuendo about Kobe Bryant possibly joining the Knicks are dying a slow death.

Thomas yesterday gave the Knicks a "less than zero" percent chance of acquiring the top free agent on the market. Of course, in his next breath, the Knicks president revealed that he may meet face-to-face with Bryant next week in Los Angeles. Why? Maybe Thomas wants to throw his name into the mix for the Lakers' vacant head coaching job or he simply likes playing the role of the prohibitive underdog.

"Chances are we're not going to sign Kobe Bryant," Thomas said. "So, don't make it like we're getting ready to get Kobe. Then, all our fans are saying, 'Damn, you didn't get Kobe.'"

When asked if the Lakers had approached him about becoming their next coach, Thomas smiled and said, "I love where I'm at." Then after a short pause, he added: "No, I wasn't contacted."

Thomas will accompany the Knicks' summer league team to Long Beach, Calif., this weekend, which would put him in close proximity to Bryant, who lives in Newport Beach. Because the Knicks are over the salary cap and have only their $5 million exception to offer Bryant, their only chance of acquiring the Lakers All-Star is via a sign-and-trade. Lakers management has already ruled out a sign-and-trade for Bryant.

A sign-and-trade for Crawford, the Chicago Bulls guard, appears to be progressing. Thomas is speaking regularly with the Bulls about a trade for Crawford, a restricted free agent who is looking for a deal in the neighborhood of $7 million and $9 million annually.

The Knicks would prefer to trade Shandon Anderson but will likely be forced to part with Kurt Thomas and perhaps Frank Williams and Othella Harrington. The Bulls would insist that the Knicks take back a player with a big contract, either Eddie Robinson or Jerome Williams.

"Well, if the players are players I like and think can play and help us, it wouldn't be that big of a problem," Thomas said. "If we take contracts then we have to give contracts. We're not under the cap so it would be a dollar-for-dollar trade."

Thomas admitted a deal for Crawford is "very difficult" to pull off because "now you have to deal with salary caps and trade scenarios, which could become cumbersome."

The Knicks as one of the teams Crawford would like to play for. The 6-5 guard lives in Seattle during the offseason, and there is a chance that Thomas will visit him next week. Thomas added that Crawford may visit the Knicks in New York.

Thomas envisions a three-guard rotation featuring Stephon Marbury, Allan Houston and Crawford. In Detroit, Thomas, Joe Dumars and Vinnie Johnson formed one of the best guard rotations in league history.

Crawford can play either guard position, which is important with Houston's health a huge question mark. Houston played in just 50 games last season due to sore knees and missed the four playoff games against New Jersey. Houston has been working out regularly at the Knicks' training facility in Greenburgh and the organization is convinced he will be ready for training camp.

Originally published on July 7, 2004