http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/24506.htm

July 6, 2004 -- The agent for Jamal Crawford told The Post yesterday that the Knicks' mid-level exception will not be enough to land the Bulls' combo guard.
In citing the marketplace changing since July 1, agent Aaron Goodwin said he has informed Knick president Isiah Thomas to work out a sign-and-trade with Chicago — as that's the only way for Crawford to sign for higher than the mid-level amount.

League sources said the mid-level exception will be about $4.93 million, lower than original $5 million estimates.

The agent, however, said after four days of free-agency, the Knicks are still "right at the top of Jamal's list" and he expects talks to heat up today.

Goodwin said eight teams have expressed interest, including Minnesota, Sacramento, Dallas, Indiana, Denver and Miami.

Denver is under the cap and can offer Crawford more than the mid-level.

Also on the free-agent front, Thomas was quoted by ESPN as saying he expects to meet with Kobe Bryant before the free-agent courting period is over.



Bryant told The Post after Game 1 of the Finals that he'd visit New York if Thomas invited him. The Post's Peter Vecsey has reported that Nike could double Bryant's endorsement contract if he ever wound up playing in the Big Apple.

"We'll talk to [Bryant]," said Thomas. "What we can offer to Kobe from a challenge standpoint is if you can win in New York, you've made your mark on history. You can make your mark in other places. But when you win in New York, you're a legend."

Thomas called the free-agent crop, "kind of light," adding, "But if there is one player who is a superstar, it's Kobe. With his [legal] issues, you don't know. You don't know if he could possibly be in jail or play. But he is definitely worth the risk."

As for Crawford, Goodwin said the market has risen after agreements last week in which Steve Nash signed for $13 million per, and Dallas guard Marquis Daniels, off his rookie year, inked for six years and $38 million.

Trading for Crawford is not easy because he will be a base-year compensation player, making the mathematics difficult, often forcing a third team to be added. However, Goodwin did not think the Knicks and Bulls needed a third team to get a deal done.

"They should be able to do something without a third team," Goodwin said.

Kurt Thomas is still a chief pawn in any deal Thomas considers. But Thomas is hoping the expiring contracts of Othella Harrington and Dikembe Mutombo also appeal to the rebuilding Bulls, who are trying to shed the contracts of Eddie Robinson and Jerome Williams.

"I got a sense Isiah wanted Jamal, and Isiah's got to find a way to get him," said Goodwin.

*

Rasheed Wallace was expected to get an offer today from the Pistons, possibly five-years, $50 million . . . Knicks begin their summer-league training camp today in Westchester, with their first look at UCLA second-rounder Trevor Ariza, who arrived in New York last Wednesday on his 19th birthday.

Not really anything new, thanks for posting.

Knicks should be able to get him and JYD/ERob for the expiring contracts and KT. I like that deal a lot, as it allows for them to use the MLE on Etan.

Could anyone tell me about the "base year" stuff plz ?

thx beforehand for the info.

i really think we should bag this Crawford stuff. If he was 6-10 250 that would be different, But this is a guy who literally plays the same positions as two guys making 20mm each. We would be spending so much money on assets we dont need. I know we need a back up for h20. If they are hll bent on bringing in some one--how about some restraint? split 3 years each on Bobby Sura and Doleac for 7mm.--this way you can move either one at any time if needed. we dont need the JYDs and e rob et al.

crawford is unreachable via the MLE.

Posted by TMS:

if you can take a flyer on a young, potential star like JC, then you do it...

EXACTLY. this isn't like we're talking about mark jackson or derek harper here. we're talking about a young, athletic, 2 position player that can be around for a LONG LONG time. team needs say we need a big man, but you can't pass up a player this talented if a big man is not available. it's not to the same scale of course but this is along the lines of jerry west moving divac for kobe.

forget moochie, shandon and penny regardless of their salaires. you play a 3 guard of marbury, h20, and crawford and if h20 should play limited minutes, then you're backcourt is really marbury and crawford which is pretty nice. now you still have another chip in frank + fillers to move for a big man.

this is the type of move we should've done 3 years ago but it's clearly a move for the future acquiring a young player before they reach their potential.

This article has alot of information.

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/bulls.asp?intID=3817474

Getting Crawford does seem to be a long shot to me unless Crawford instists he goes to the Knicks. I think he is just using NY to up his price.

TMS....that is assuming DerMarr wants to play for the Bulls.

Posted by TMS:

why not? he'd get more playing time there than on the Knicks, that's for sure...especially if Pippen is gone & if they are giving up ERob in that deal back to the Knicks...DJ could find a bigger role on that team, no?

Because if he wanted to play for the Bulls, it would be easier for the Bulls to just sign him outright.

I don't know....DerMarr's contract just doesn't seem substantial enough to really make a difference for salary matching concerns.

Honestly, I'm starting to get sick of this Crawford talk and this is the last post I'm gonna make about him until some type of deal is done. There is no doubt that the Knicks need more frontcourt help then backcourt help but TMS said it right when he said that you have to get Crawford if you have a chance because he is a rising star in the league and he has a ton of talent. We are not going to get many chances to get a player like this so we really have to make a strong attempt to get him because none of us really know how healthy Allan is and even if he is healthy Jamal will still get an ample amount of minutes. Plus, its always good to know that you have a replacement for Houston down the line. Of course, if we do get Jamal, Frankie will probably be traded for frontcourt help and there is nothing wrong with that as long as we can get a good deal.





The best part about doing a sign and trade for Jamal is of course that we would still have the MLE available to use on a big guy. Of course you would have to make an attempt to get Dampier with that MLE because he has said before that he would take less pay and he said he was interested in the Knicks. Of course getting Dampier for the MLE would be very hard but you have to take a chance. After that, I would say that we should offer the MLE at 6 years for Etan Thomas. Yes, Ernie Grunfield has already said that he would match any offer at the MLE but again, you have to take a chance because he might not want to make a committment like that to his backup C (Haywood is starting for the Wizards next season). Of course if the Wizards match that offer you still have other free agents that can provide help in the frontcourt such as Mike Doleac, Antonio McDyess (will probably go the Pistons), etc.





That is about all I'm going to say about the Jamal Crawford situation and about free agency in general. I'm just gonna wait until Isiah makes a move, if he does, I'll be back to talk about it Until then enjoy your summer...