Knicks Rumors: Jamal Crawford Offer from Indiana Pacers May Ruin New York Hopes

New York Knicks interim GM Glen Grunwald has been hot after shooting guard Jamal Crawford for days now in an attempt to land him via a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

But the Indiana Pacers may have just swooped in and ruined any chance at that happening for the Knicks.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Pacers have offered Crawford a two-year, $10 million contract with an option to become a free agent again in 2012.

That would be a heck of a lot more money than the one-year mini-mid-level exemption of $2.5 million that the Knicks could offer Crawford.

Even if Crawford had a desire to return to New York, the money may be too good to pass up at this stage in the game.

For the Knicks though, that may not be such a bad thing.

They could turn their attention to a point guard who could be waived by the amnesty clause. Two candidates could include Baron Davis or Mo Williams.

Retaining forward Shawne Williams could also be a possibility with the money that would have gone to Crawford.

There is no doubt that Crawford would make the Knicks' roster deeper. Adding some scoring off the bench would be a big move for Grunwald.

Yet financially, it looks doubtful that Crawford makes a return to the Garden. Unless he's willing to take the "Hometown Discount" to play in New York, $10 million could be an awful lot of money to pass up.