New York Knicks: Signing Baron Davis Is a Win-Win Situation for the Knicks

Is Baron Davis going to push the New York Knicks past teams like the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat in the eyes of the "experts" and prognosticators?

Of course not, especially considering that nobody seems to know exactly how long the herniated disc in his back will keep him out of action. Some have said he will be out eight-to-ten weeks while others are more optimistic, saying that Davis could be on the court by the end of January.

Regardless of when Davis finally takes the floor in a New York Knicks uniform, signing him for the "mini" mid-level exception was a move that comes with little risk to the men that call Madison Square Garden home.

Davis knows the situation he is coming into and what his primary job will be—to feed the ball to Carmelo Anthony on the wing or Amar'e Stoudemire down low.

But if one or both are double teamed, Davis still has the ability to break down his defender and could become a legitimate third option for the Knicks.

The best case scenario is that Davis takes the court healthy and remains fully committed to his role, keeping his ego in check and equals or surpasses his career average of just over sixteen points and seven assists a game.

The worst case scenario is that Davis becomes dis-interested in being the third option, gives a lackluster effort on the court and becomes a distraction in the locker room. Making $2.5 million on a one-year deal means that there is no albatross of a contract that would preclude the Knicks from cutting him.

More likely is that Davis watches his assist total rise while his scoring diminishes slightly.

While "Boom Dizzle" may have lost a step with injury and time, his arrival makes the Knicks a deeper team.

Davis immediately becomes the best point guard on the team, and upon his return to health, he allows Toney Douglas to return to his role as the backup point guard, one that he is well suited for.

Mike Bibby would become nothing more than a three point specialist off the bench and would see his minutes limited.

Both moves would be positives for the Knicks.

Of the players available to them with the "mini" mid-level exception, Baron Davis was the best option with the greatest upside.