Baron Davis to Knicks: Scoring Point Guard Destined to Struggle in New York

Journeyman NBA point guard Baron Davis is an awkward piece to the New York Knicks' 12-man puzzle.

According to a Thursday report by Alan Hahn at Newsday, "multiple sources say there is mutual interest between Davis and the Knicks."

The 32-year-old was amnestied by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday and is now on waivers.

But what exactly would Davis bring to the table that Chauncey Billups did not?

A bad back that will require at least 8-10 weeks to fully recover is the only thing that really comes to mind. 

Sure, Davis is a few years younger than Billups, but his game is almost identical in the sense that it's predicated on scoring first, and dishing second.

Looking back through Davis' career you'll find that the former UCLA Bruin was always a scoring point guard who wasn't afraid to take shots, especially from 2002-08 with the Hornets and Warriors.

Davis averaged a career-high 22.9 points per game in 2003-04 with the Hornets, and averaged a career-high 20.9 field-goal attempts per game.

Unfortunately, there is no room in the Big Apple for another shot-taker, or scorer. Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony will provide more than enough superstar offensive output for the Knicks—that's why Billups had to go, along with his $14 million contract.

The Knicks have a dominant center in Tyson Chandler, but now they need a facilitator.

The Knicks need a point guard who can penetrate the defense, like Chris Paul or Steve Nash, and find STAT or Melo for easy buckets. 

Baron Davis with a herniated disc is not going to probe a defense with the same effectiveness that even Billups would have.

Davis just doesn't fit the puzzle. Mike D'Antoni needs a point guard like the one he had in Phoenix—not nearly as talented, but one similar.

When you have Stoudemire and Anthony on the front line, you don't have to ask much of your backcourt, but a little more than an aging, aching Baron Davis. 

Unless he's throwing alley-oops out of the sunroof of a Kia to a wide open Amar'e Stoudemire.