NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Talking to Jamal Crawford About Sign-and-Trade

The New York Knicks, having secured Tyson Chandler, have now set their sights on Jamal Crawford according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.

"

One day after reaching a surprising agreement with center Tyson Chandler, the New York Knicks are attempting to acquire another notable free agent. The Knicks are zeroing in on Jamal Crawford and trying to add the veteran shooting guard through a sign-and-trade, according to sources close to the situation. 

"

There are two questions this raises. What would they be able to offer the Atlanta Hawks, and what would they be able to offer Crawford?

Their problem is that they have very little to offer in either regard. According to Kennedy,

"

New York is over the cap and has no exception money. They also have few trade assets to offer. If the Hawks were willing to do a sign-and-trade with New York built around Renaldo Balkman’s $1.67 million deal, Bill Walker’s $916,000 deal and Toney Douglas’ $1.145 million deal, the Knicks would be sending out $3.73 million in salaries. The new collective bargaining agreement would allow New York to take back 150 percent plus or minus $100,000, which would give Crawford a starting salary of $5.6 million.

"

The Chicago Bulls have also been pursuing Crawford, but there hasn't been any word of whether they are still trying to get him since they have all but sewn up Richard Hamilton. Furthermore, they seem to have turned their attention to bigger fish, specifically 6'11", 265-pound variety. 

Other teams that are looking at Crawford are the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets, New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nets are a front-runner for the services of Dwight Howard as well and will likely also be reserving their resources to go after the Orlando Magic superstar. 

That leaves the Knicks as the only contender actively trying to get Crawford. That might make Crawford willing to take the pay cut.

If it's about the money, other teams can offer him more money and secure a deal without a sign-and-trade. It would also seem that both the Bulls and Nets would have more assets and be able to work out more money if they were to pursue a sign and trade.  

The best-case scenario for the Knicks is that Crawford wants to play for a contender, and they're the only contenders pursuing him, and that's looking more and more likely to be the case. Mike Bibby and Crawford, former teammates in Atlanta, could be reunited in New York.