NOTEBOOK
Knicks Interested in Van Exel
By CHRIS BROUSSARD


Philly, Feb. 9 — The Knicks have had internal discussions about trading for Denver Nuggets point guard Nick Van Exel, an Eastern Conference official said.

Van Exel has told the Nuggets he wants to be traded, and he has presented them with a list of teams he would like to play for. The Knicks are believed to be on that list.

Despite his reputation as a malcontent, several teams are interested in Van Exel, who is averaging 21.7 points and 8.2 assists a game. A Western Conference official said Toronto, Golden State, Phoenix and the Knicks appeared to have the best chance of landing him.

"There's nothing really on the table," said Denver's general manager, Kiki Vandeweghe, a former Knick player. "We're still working."

Another Western Conference official said there was a very strong chance Van Exel could get traded before the league's Feb. 21 deadline. While Van Exel has the type of game the Knicks have coveted for years, Scott Layden, the Knicks' president and general manager, has concerns about his character, according to the official. During the 1995-96 season, for example, Van Exel slammed into a referee while disputing a call.

The Knicks fear that while Van Exel might be fine in a winning situation, he could become a nightmare if the Knicks continued to struggle. Even so, some members of the Knicks organization are trying to persuade Layden to make a push for Van Exel.

The Knicks are also interested in Nuggets forward Raef LaFrentz, a 7-footer who is averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks a game. The Knicks contacted Denver about LaFrentz, but Vandeweghe quickly ended the discussion because the Knicks were not willing to part with one of their top three players: Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston and Marcus Camby.

One of those three would have to be involved in any deal to acquire Van Exel. Houston would be the likeliest because the Knicks would not trade their most valuable big man, Camby, for a guard, and Sprewell might have too much fan appeal in New York to trade for anyone but a superstar. The Nuggets believe Houston is a solid player they could count on for several years.

Van Exel is in the third year of a seven- year, $77 million deal and is making $10.1 million this season. He said last week that he would be willing to forgo the final two years of his contract, worth $26.5 million, if the Nuggets traded him, but until Van Exel puts that in writing, few will believe it.

Trading Houston for Van Exel would give the Knicks four point guards, which means they would certainly try to include one of their three point guards — Howard Eisley, Mark Jackson and Charlie Ward — in the deal.

Avery Johnson, Denver's backup point guard, is 36, so the Nuggets would not be interested in bringing in another aging point guard like Jackson, also 36. The Nuggets like Ward, but the two years and $12 million left on his contract might be a deterrent.


Ps.I have been looking at real gm trade checker,and all tades to Denver are esier with Spree than houston.Check this link.


http://http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=481739

I would definetly like to get a trade done involving Houston and Van Exel. I don't think we should bother with LaFrentz for right now because they won't take anyone but Camby for him it seems. I like this deal especially because Van Exel and Marbury put up very similar numbers and even though Marbury is much younger, we can get Van Exel for much cheaper.

There's another deal i've heard about where the Knicks would send Harrington, Anderson, and Eisley to Utah for Greg Ostertag and Bryon Russell. I think it make sense because we get a decent center who can fill in well for Camby, and Russell, though being a little older than Anderson, provides the same on the defensive end and is a better shooter.

Posted by knicksbabyyeah:

Ostertag?

This guy is a major-league strikeout. He is a cancer that has infected this team to the point where, among other things such as age, shooting deficiencies and the attendant growing pains of playing youngsters, the line in the sand has become obvious.

http://www2.sltrib.com/jazz/Main/Story.asp?VOL=02102002&NUM=175348

He has been a disappointment in Utah, but many players just need a change a i would still be willing to make this trade. I would prefer to do a deal for Van Exel though. Also, the Daily News said the Knicks have had scouts in Seattle to watch Vin Baker, Gary Payton, and Desmond Mason so maybe they have something in mind. They better do something because the deadline is coming fast.