Knicks Rumors: Baron Davis Hopes to Sign with New York and Play in 2 Weeks

With Shawne Williams gone to New Jersey, Jamal Crawford in Portland, and money wearing thin, the New York Knicks now find themselves in a bind heading into the 2011-12 season.

They picked up the top post defender of free agency in Tyson Chandler, but at a cost of $14 million per season, maybe Samuel Dalembert would have been the smarter option at his cheaper price. Since all of their money went into Chandler, the team then became desperate enough to sign point guard Mike Bibby, despite his wretched stint with the Miami Heat and most recently seen shooting 28 percent last postseason.

As a result of going after Crawford, they lost out on Williams to their division rivals. Williams could have been the leading scorer of the second unit for the Knicks after a healthy season, where he shot 40 percent from beyond the arc, but will now have to look forward to going against him, and his deadly shooting prowess, four times a year.

The free agency well is running dry as well. The only affordable options that could contribute somewhat significantly on offense would have to be either a 35-year-old Earl Boykins, a solid bench player in Willie Green who may still be too expensive, or the ailing Michael Redd.

None of those options seem capable of leading a second unit, and that's going to leave the Knicks in an awkward position whenever they send Carmelo Anthony and/or Amare Stoudemire to the bench.

However, the team may have just found a small sliver of hope courtesy of the Cleveland Cavaliers and their use of the amnesty clause on point guard Baron Davis. The 32-year-old spent time with the L.A. Clippers and Cavaliers last season and managed to average 13 points on 42 percent shooting to go along with seven assists and three boards per and is now showing interest in joining the Knicks.

Davis was reported to have a bulging disc in his back that would have kept him out eight to 10 weeks, but he is claiming that he'll be ready in two weeks.

Ever since joining the Clippers as a free agent, Davis just hasn't been the same player from from his Hornets and Warrior days. Instead of the athletic, multi-dimensional point guard that we formerly knew, Davis has turned into an unmotivated player who has become a blemish on the face of every franchise that has had the misfortune of acquiring him.

He only tries hard when he feels like it, doesn't care about winning, and will gladly disrupt the flow of the offense with a wayward shot way too early in the shot clock. Aside from Steve Francis, Davis is the closest thing you will get to a locker room cancer due to the unpredictability of his on-court efforts on a nightly basis and the effect that it has on the rest of the team.

Now, he may join the Knicks. While Davis may add another offensive weapon to the Knicks, I fail to see how a player like Davis is going to be able to co-exist on a team where two other players are going to be looking to score at will, and on every possession.

Granted, he may fit in soundly with a run-'n-gun style much like his Warriors used to play, it's just that he has to recognize his limitations at this point in his career.

The Knicks need a scorer, but not like Davis. A scorer who can knock down some three's and has a strong history with superstar teammates is ideal for the Knicks—not a player like Davis, who will come into this team assuming he can continue his Clipper and Cavalier ways, and/or assuming he can control and run the offense.

Baron Davis should not be running any offenses, especially ones with two other superstars whose identities are built on scoring. I understand the Knicks are desperate, but taking a chance on Davis may seem like a bit of a stretch. This team is already going to have enough of a task to co-exist two pure scorers, and they don't need a third to disrupt the progress being made.

Chauncey Billups is surely being missed at this point.