Knicks Rumors: New York Needs Better Than Baron Davis to Contend for NBA Title

If Baron Davis is the best the New York Knicks can come up with to shore up their situation at point guard, then they might as well recuse themselves from any and all conversations having anything to with winning the NBA title.

The two-time All-Star was let go by the Cleveland Cavaliers via the one-time amnesty provision under the new collective bargaining agreement and has since cleared waivers to become an unrestricted free agent.

Davis is believed to be eying a return to the Association with either the Knicks, the Miami Heat or his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.

When his back allows him to play, that is.

Don't get me wrong—Davis is a terrific player, when he's healthy, in shape and properly motivated. Those factors seem to align about as often as the planets in our solar system do and don't figure to do so anytime soon.

According to his agent, Todd Ramisar, Davis will miss the next eight to 10 weeks while he recovers from his recurring back problems.

That hasn't kept the Knicks from going hard after the former Hornet, Warrior, Clipper and Cavalier. Davis is looking to sign with a new team well before he's ready to play so that he can get comfortable with his teammates, coaches, organization and city.

Surely, New York could use Davis' services. The team amnestied former All-Star and NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups last week to clear cap space for free-agent signee Tyson Chandler and have since done little to replace him.

Unless, of course, anyone thinks Mike Bibby, at his age (33) and with his declining foot speed and defensive ability, is a worthy fill-in.

Should Bibby falter, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni would have only Toney Douglas and Iman Shumpert, both natural off-guards, to handle the ball in a lead-guard-centric system.

Davis, though, would hardly be the sort of upgrade that would lift the Knickerbockers into championship contention.

They already have one of the league's best front lines, between Chandler, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

All they need to compete for a title is a guard who can push the pace on offense and pressure the ball up top on defense.

Davis is capable of doing the former if/when he's fit but has never been much of a defensive force.

Now, it's one thing for Davis to sign with the Lakers or the Heat, neither of whom need much out of their lead guard.

However, for the Knicks, whose coach's success has long been predicated on point guard dominance, Davis is far from the perfect fit, especially if the goal is to raise another banner at Madison Square Garden.

Follow @J0shMart1n