Crawford signs off on Knicks deal

August 5, 2004

BY LACY J. BANKS Staff Reporter Advertisement







After verbally agreeing to a seven-year contract Wednesday that will pay him at least $56 million -- plus a potential $4 million more in bonuses -- Jamal Crawford has paved the way for the Bulls and New York Knicks to finally complete the six-player trade they agreed to in principle Monday night.

Crawford's initial refusal of the contract proposal came close to breaking up what the Bulls thought was a fair offer.

''I say that 'fair' is a relative term,'' said Crawford's agent, Aaron Goodwin. ''Jamal was always looking forward to becoming a New York Knick. But all he did was take time to think about the deal and sleep on it, just as [Bulls operations chief] John Paxson and [Knicks general manager] Isiah Thomas slept on it. Remember, it took six weeks to do this deal.

''But Jamal has accepted the contract offer, and from our perspective, we have a deal. All that we have to do now is sign documents, and I hope to have all that done no later than Friday because I'm going on a vacation next week.''

After Crawford signs, the Bulls will trade him and reserve forward Jerome Williams to the Knicks for forward Othella Harrington, former Illinois guard Frank Williams and centers Dikembe Mutombo and Cezary Trybanski. All of their contracts expire after next season, the stipulation Paxson demanded in order to make the deal.

The trade will excuse the Bulls from paying Crawford's salary, and it will save them $11 million over four years because of the other contracts involved.

The Knicks wanted Crawford as insurance for the physically uncertain Allan Houston. It's possible Crawford will be an expensive backup to Houston at shooting guard and to Stephon Marbury at the point.

There is also talk out of New York that the Knicks are considering acquiring the Toronto Raptors' Vince Carter, possibly for Marbury. That scenario would make Crawford the starting point guard.

''The fact the Knicks gave up a lot to get Jamal shows that they really wanted him badly,'' Goodwin said. ''We greatly appreciate them for making such a tremendous commitment, and they will be rewarded for it by his play.''

One person who won't be happy to see Crawford go is center Eddy Curry, Crawford's best friend on the Bulls.

''Jamal didn't want to be traded, but it's just part of the business,'' Curry said recently. ''You never know when you're going to get traded. So you just have to learn to accept that. But we'll still be good friends.''

A friend of Curry's said Curry is privately upset ''because he believes the Bulls owed it to Jamal to keep him since he led the team in scoring last season, has worked hard and has never caused the team any trouble.''


NOTES: Former Bulls forward Marcus Fizer pleaded guilty to misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon as part of a plea bargain that calls for him to serve 12 months of probation.

*After considering other options, the Bulls will conduct their entire training camp at the Berto Center.

THE DEAL






THE BULLS GET
Othella Harrington
*30, 6-9, 235, PF, 8 years
2003-04: 4.6 ppg., 3.2 rpg.
Career: 8.1 ppg., 5.0 rpg.
Dikembe Mutombo
*38, 7-1, 261, C, 13 years
2003-04: 5.6 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 1.9 blocks
Career: 11.7 ppg., 11.7 rpg., 3.2 blocks
Frank Williams
*24, 6-3, 210, PG, 2 years
2003-04: 3.9 ppg., 2.2 apg.
Career: 3.2 ppg., 2.0 apg.
Cezary Trybanski
*24, 7-2, 240, C, 2 years
2003-04: 0.1 ppg., 0.1 rpg.
Career: 0.7 ppg., 0.7 rpg.


THE KNICKS GET
Jamal Crawford
*24, 6-5, 190, G, 4 years
2003-04: 17.3 ppg., 3.8 apg., 2.4 rpg.
Career: 11.2 ppg., 3.8 apg., 2.4 rpg.
Jerome Williams
*31, 6-9, 230, F, 8 years
2003-04: 6.2 ppg., 7.0 rpg.
Career: 6.9 ppg., 6.8 rpg.

OK now, let's get dampier.

But admit it, worry-wart, this did put a teeny little smile on your face.

Another link.....

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/gensports/b3pks0rq077.html

This guy says that he thinks Dolan and IT faked beiong furious that Crawford had not agreed yet to the contract to get the Bullss to take a lesser deal.

Neat idea. Don't know if its true, but i doubt it would have worked

Let's face it, Isiah caved. He better make up for it in other deals, and get Dolan to buy out Shandon. I don't want to see him in a Knick uniform again.

It's not done.

Posted by Rich:

It's not done.

yup. I think this whole thing may be a ploy by Agent to push a better deal.

Posted by firefly:

how whould this help him get a better deal? He's saying this is good enough. Why would they then offer him more?

you never know. I think if Crawford accepted, you would hear Isiah say "the deal is done". Notice how all the reports are coming out of Chicago and none from NY. Maybe Paxson is pushing the deal and Isiah has not accepted.

This feels like what is going on:
(from here: http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/080504/c06w05knicksweb.html)

Knicks and Chicago have agreed on this deal:

While the Chicago Bulls have agreed to package the restricted free agent and Jerome Williams in a sign-and-trade for Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington, Frank Williams and Cezary Trybanski, there's been a contractual snag.

But Crawford was expecting more $$$:

According to Aaron Goodwin, who represents Crawford, initial discussions included a proposal to pay the 24-year-old combo guard nearly $70 million over seven years. When it came time for specifics, a reported $56 million offer didn't fly. Further negotiations have failed to yield a compromise.

Since no other team made an offer, it appears the Knicks have leverage.

"The starting point is lower than what we were expecting," Goodwin said yesterday afternoon. "Jamal wants to play for the New York Knicks, so hopefully it'll work out. I don't see why Isiah wouldn't (compromise). He wanted Jamal at the higher number, and I don't see why it would change."