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JAMAL CRAWFORD
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July 9, 2004 -- Isiah Thomas got close to Kobe Bryant on Wednesday night, but the Knicks president moved closer to landing free agent combo guard Jamal Crawford in a multi-player sign-and-trade with the budget-conscious Bulls.
Thomas' one-hour meeting with Bryant at a location near Bryant's Newport Beach, Calif., home with owner James Dolan and Garden president Steve Mills in tow, was nice publicity, but better will occur if the Knicks add Crawford without losing Kurt Thomas in the transaction.

It looks as if it's not a matter of if, but when, Thomas will get Crawford. A Chicago newspaper reported the teams were close on a deal, saying it could be finalized by yesterday, but the Knicks and multiple sources denied that.

Aaron Goodwin, agent for Crawford, called the Knicks the favorite to acquire Crawford and said Thomas could meet with Crawford in the next 48 hours or talk on the phone today. They will meet either in Seattle, where the guard lives, or in Long Beach, Calif., where the Knicks begin their summer league tomorrow.

"It's a step that has to happen," Goodwin said.

Asked if the Knicks are the favorite, Goodwin said, "I would say so. They've been the most aggressive. I appreciated Isiah being aggressive. They are progressing, going back and forth."

No other team appears seriously involved, with Goodwin saying that Crawford re-signing with the Bulls would be the other option. Another factor in the Knicks' favor is Goodwin is the agent for Vin Baker, and Thomas has plans to take care of the 6-11 forward.



The Bulls are interested in clearing cap room for next summer, so Othella Harrington, Dikembe Mutombo and/or Cezary Trybanski likely will be in the deal. If the Bulls agree to take Shandon Anderson, the Knicks may take both of the Bulls' bad contracts, Jerome Williams and Eddie Robinson.

The Bulls also have interest in Frank Williams, who sprained his ankle at summer-league practice Wednesday and will not make the trip to Long Beach. The Knicks deny it's related to being involved in a Bulls trade. Williams is from Peoria, Ill., starred for the University of Illinois, and likely would cherish the move.

Crawford, able to play both backcourt slots, would give the Knicks a dynamic three-guard unit with Stephon Marbury and Allan Houston.

Marbury, attending the summer-league practice to watch his borther Zech, said, "I love Jamal Crawford. He plays with a lot of intensity. He's very flashy. He can shoot the ball, he can handle it, pass. I love everything about him. He's a great player and definitely a guy who can help our team.

"For us as a team we won't lose a beat," Marbury said, "being Jamal can play the off guard. That opens up things for Allan and yourself. When Allan needs a blow, when I need a blow, he can come in."

Thomas reported to aides that the meeting with Bryant went well, but the Laker is far from making a decision.

A Nike spokesperson told The Post on Tuesday that Bryant has no clause in his $40 million contract to bump its value if he played in New York. But there is speculation if there is an opt-out, Nike would pay more for Bryant if he played in New York, where its public relations offices are based.

"Kobe's a great player," said Marbury, who probably would have to go in a sign-and-trade to obtain the Lakers' superstar. "Who wouldn't want to play with him?"

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/210295p-181238c.html

Knicks try to
deal in Bull market

By FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Jamal Crawford has neither the credentials nor the marketing appeal of Kobe Bryant. But Crawford is closer to joining the Knicks today than Bryant may ever be.

In the wake of Bryant meeting face-to-face with Madison Square Garden's three top executives on Wednesday in Newport Beach, Calif., the Knicks and Chicago Bulls continue to make progress on a multi-player deal that would send Crawford, a free-agent guard, to New York in a sign-and-trade.

Knicks president Isiah Thomas and Bulls GM John Paxson are still negotiating the players that would be included in a deal for Crawford, who would get a six-year contract worth approximately $60 million.

Thomas is expected to meet with Crawford over the next few days, according to Crawford's agent, Aaron Goodwin. "There has been progress," Goodwin said yesterday. "I think the Knicks are the front-runners right now."

Thomas was unavailable for comment yesterday. He remained in the Los Angeles area after he, Garden chairman James Dolan and Garden president Steve Mills met with Bryant. According to a source, the meeting went well, but the Knicks realize that salary-cap restrictions will make it difficult to convince Bryant to sign a six-year, $40 million contract when he already has an offer from the Lakers worth $140 million over seven years.

The 24-year-old, 6-5 Crawford has always been the more realistic target. The Bulls are clearly open to trading Crawford but only if Eddie Robinson and/or Jerome Williams, two role players with bloated contracts, are included in any deal.

The Knicks are trying to move Shandon Anderson, who is scheduled to earn $24 million over the next three years. The only way the Bulls will take Anderson is if the Knicks take back both Robinson and Williams, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. Thomas has balked at such a trade.

Robinson is scheduled to earn $14 million over two years and Williams has three years guaranteed at $18 million plus a team option for a fourth year at $7million. The Knicks would prefer to take back Williams, who played under Lenny Wilkens in Toronto and has a good relationship with Mills, Dolan's right-hand executive.

Paxson has informed the Knicks the other alternative would be Crawford and either Robinson or Williams in return for players entering the final year of their contracts. That would eliminate Anderson but include Dikembe Mutombo.

The obvious snag is that Mutombo, whose relationship with Thomas is strained to say the least, has said he'll retire if he were dealt anywhere other than New Jersey, Philadelphia or Miami. Mutombo nixed a proposed trade to Golden State before the February trading deadline by threatening to retire.

Meanwhile, it is believed that third-year guard Frank Williams, who grew up in Peoria and attended the University of Illinois, would be part of the Crawford deal. The Knicks announced yesterday that Williams suffered a sprained ankle in Wednesday's practice and will not join the team's summer-league entry in Long Beach, Calif., this weekend. Williams' omission from the team raised speculation that the Knicks do not want to risk having him suffer a serious injury that could kill a deal for Crawford.

Originally published on July 9, 2004