GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The Knicks appear to be headed to their second offseason victory in a week, and just in time for free agency.

Two league sources said the NBA and the players union are nearing a settlement in the "Bird" rights case involving Lin and Steve Novak. One of the sources believed both would receive some form of "Bird" rights, which should allow the Knicks to re-sign Lin and Novak without using their free-agent exceptions.

Both sources said talks were ongoing and that a settlement is expected before free agency begins Sunday. "Both sides are working hard on it," one source said. "Both sides would like to put this behind them."

The Knicks drafted 6-8 Greek small forward Kostas Papanikolaou with the 48th pick last night. He's considered a good shooter, slasher and defender. But he won't play here for at least one more year. Papanikolaou plays for Olympiakos and doesn't have a buyout until 2013.

Now the Knicks will turn their attention to free agency and players who can help immediately, and they hope to have as much flexibility as possible to improve their roster.

Last Friday, arbitrator Kenneth Dam ruled for the players union and granted "early Bird" rights to Lin and Novak.

If in the settlement Lin and Novak have full "early Bird rights," the Knicks, who are over the salary cap, can pay them up to 104.5 percent of the average salary, or about $5.5 million. They could spend the midlevel and lower-level exceptions on other free agents.

The Knicks would be handcuffed if this matter went into free agency. They need to upgrade and add depth to the backcourt. If they can use their full midlevel, it could put them in better position to pursue Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton and Ray Allen.

Without Bird rights, the Knicks likely would have to spend all of the $5 million midlevel exception to re-sign or match offers for Lin, a restricted free agent who can't get more than the $5.2 million average salary from other teams. Some details still must be ironed out before the agreement -- which the New York Times first reported was close -- is reached.

Dam's ruling was surprising because the collective bargaining agreement states players can't be waived or sign with teams as free agents and retain their Bird rights.

The NBA planned to appeal Dam's decision, but that process would have extended into free agency, so the sides began talks this week with expectations it would be decided by Saturday night. "I sure hope so," one source said. "If not, it will be a mess."

The Dolan family owns controlling interest in the Knicks, Madison Square Garden and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.

ChuckBuck wrote:If they can get Foye in free agency it'll ease the pain of passing on DJO and Machado.

yeah, exactly. and now they can make an offer to Foye.

There are better players available for the midlevel than Randy Foye.

crzymdups wrote:

JamesKPolk wrote:Why in God's name do people want Foye over other players? This player has never been good and is horribly inconsistent.

There are better players available for the midlevel than Randy Foye.

I think Foye is one of the few realistic targets that's been mentioned. Nash isn't coming, Ray Allen isn't coming, Lamar Odom is going to be traded, Kidd is going wherever Deron Williams goes.

Who else is left? Crawford, Foye, Felton are semi-realistic, but even Felton and Crawford might be reaches.

Come up with realistic names and we can talk.

Spot on.

callmened wrote:So according to that article the knix have a MLE & LLE

if thats the case lets get foye and odom

And Kidd

David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt

3 way sending Lamar Odom back 2 Clips, Mo Williams to Utah & clearing cap room 4 Dallas is close to done, but nor yet official, per sources.
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crzymdups wrote:

JamesKPolk wrote:
How do you know any of these things? None of these are set in stone.

Looking at the free agents for this season, I decided to make a list of guys I want who are affordable and guys I want who probably wont come here.

Here's who I want but we will be in heated competition from other teams for:

Steve Nash (probably the most unlikely of these names)
Ray Allen
Kevin Garnett
Jason Terry
Andre Miller
Marcus Camby
Kenyon Martin
Carlos Delfino
Raymond Felton
Chris Kaman

Here's who I like who will probably be in our price range (including vets minimum):

Kirk Hinrich
Mickeal Pietrus
Antawn Jamison
Jason Kidd
Ian Mahinmi
Reggie Evans
Marco Belinelli
Derek Fisher
Michael Redd
Joel Pryzbilla
Anthony Parker
DeShawn Stevenson

Guy you take a gamble on: Jeff Green

i put strike throughs on guys who will never come here or are far too expensive to take $3M a year.

Nash is gonna get $8-10M. KG is never leaving boston. ray allen is staying in boston or going to miami, my money says he stays in boston. terry is worth a hell of a lot more than $3M. kidd, camby and miller are just never coming here. they just aren't. kidd and camby hate the knicks.

the rest of your list... okay. but i like foye better than a lot of those names. and crawford.

i would puke if we signed a guy like antawn jamison

What's wrong with Jamison for the vets minimum? the answer: Nothing

Also, Jamal Crawford is worse than anyone on that list, including Foye.

Nothing else you're saying is really based on factual evidence besides Steve Nash. Saying "Kidd, Camby, and Miller are just not coming here" because "they're just not" is not a logical explanation. There's no way we can tell who will come here and who wont. We'll have to wait and see how many players view us as a contender in free agency.

crzymdups wrote:

JamesKPolk wrote:
How do you know any of these things? None of these are set in stone.

Looking at the free agents for this season, I decided to make a list of guys I want who are affordable and guys I want who probably wont come here.

Here's who I want but we will be in heated competition from other teams for:

Steve Nash (probably the most unlikely of these names)
Ray Allen
Kevin Garnett
Jason Terry
Andre Miller
Marcus Camby
Kenyon Martin
Carlos Delfino
Raymond Felton
Chris Kaman

Here's who I like who will probably be in our price range (including vets minimum):

Kirk Hinrich
Mickeal Pietrus
Antawn Jamison
Jason Kidd
Ian Mahinmi
Reggie Evans
Marco Belinelli
Derek Fisher
Michael Redd
Joel Pryzbilla
Anthony Parker
DeShawn Stevenson

Guy you take a gamble on: Jeff Green

i put strike throughs on guys who will never come here or are far too expensive to take $3M a year.

Nash is gonna get $8-10M. KG is never leaving boston. ray allen is staying in boston or going to miami, my money says he stays in boston. terry is worth a hell of a lot more than $3M. kidd, camby and miller are just never coming here. they just aren't. kidd and camby hate the knicks.

the rest of your list... okay. but i like foye better than a lot of those names. and crawford.

i would puke if we signed a guy like antawn jamison

Big no to Redd who hasn't had even the resemblance of health for the last several years. Anthony Parker retired. Other than that good list; I don't know why everyone seems to think that Nash and Allen are way out of our price range.

VCoug wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

JamesKPolk wrote:
How do you know any of these things? None of these are set in stone.

Looking at the free agents for this season, I decided to make a list of guys I want who are affordable and guys I want who probably wont come here.

Here's who I want but we will be in heated competition from other teams for:

Steve Nash (probably the most unlikely of these names)
Ray Allen
Kevin Garnett
Jason Terry
Andre Miller
Marcus Camby
Kenyon Martin
Carlos Delfino
Raymond Felton
Chris Kaman

Here's who I like who will probably be in our price range (including vets minimum):

Kirk Hinrich
Mickeal Pietrus
Antawn Jamison
Jason Kidd
Ian Mahinmi
Reggie Evans
Marco Belinelli
Derek Fisher
Michael Redd
Joel Pryzbilla
Anthony Parker
DeShawn Stevenson

Guy you take a gamble on: Jeff Green

i put strike throughs on guys who will never come here or are far too expensive to take $3M a year.

Nash is gonna get $8-10M. KG is never leaving boston. ray allen is staying in boston or going to miami, my money says he stays in boston. terry is worth a hell of a lot more than $3M. kidd, camby and miller are just never coming here. they just aren't. kidd and camby hate the knicks.

the rest of your list... okay. but i like foye better than a lot of those names. and crawford.

i would puke if we signed a guy like antawn jamison

Big no to Redd who hasn't had even the resemblance of health for the last several years. Anthony Parker retired. Other than that good list; I don't know why everyone seems to think that Nash and Allen are way out of our price range.

the idea that nash would come to NY to back up jeremy lin after his favorite coach ever was run out of town by carmelo anthony is just laughable. i'm sorry, it's just not gonna happen.

ray allen is supposedly already mulling between miami and boston. if ray goes anywhere, it'll be to ring chase. he knows he's not a starter anymore.