Newsday.com
Source: Baron Davis has made inquiries about Knicks
BY ALAN HAHN
[email protected]
10:47 PM EDT, May 22, 2008
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There is little doubt that the Knicks will shop for a point guard this summer, but at least one has come shopping for them. According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the Warriors'
Baron Davis has made inquiries into the interest of certain teams around the league, including the Knicks.
Davis, 29, has an opt-out clause for this summer that could make him a free agent, but the Warriors don't believe he would walk away from the final year and $17.8 million, which is money the dynamic but oft-injured guard likely wouldn't make on the open market. So Davis' only other play is to see if another team would pursue a sign-and-trade for him.
According to the source, his representation, after a preliminary discussion with the Warriors, has put out feelers to gauge the interest of teams in need of an upgrade at point guard.
With a new regime in place and plans for a major roster overhaul, Stephon Marbury's Knicks future is tenuous. But team president Donnie Walsh won't explore a trade or buyout of the final year and $21 million left on his contract unless he has a replacement in place.
Davis' agent, Todd Ramasar, has said Davis would prefer to remain a Warrior, but initial discussions with executive Chris Mullin have not developed into extension talks. With only seven players under contract at $47 million (counting Davis' salary), Mullin doesn't have much cap space to use for his higher priorities: getting restricted free agents Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins signed to long-term deals.
Ellis, 22, also might look to explore other options when the July free-agency period begins. A league source told Newsday that the athletic combo guard, who has flourished in Don Nelson's fast-break system, definitely has eyes for Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo style.
The cap-restricted Knicks, however, could give Ellis only an offer sheet at the mid-level exception. The Warriors could match it but wouldn't have much left to give Biedrins a raise above his $3.6-million qualifying offer and add seven more players. Or the Knicks could look to acquire Ellis in a sign-and-trade.
The questions are, of course: Is Walsh willing to use his mid-level exception when he's trying to get under the cap by 2010? What would the Warriors want in return?
Reports have suggested that Denver is shopping Carmelo Anthony and is in exploratory discussions with the Nets about a deal. This would be a situation the Knicks would want to monitor -- if only it were accurate.
According to a league executive, the Nuggets have no plans to move Anthony. The source said the Nets called Denver with a proposal that would involve Anthony going to New Jersey and Richard Jefferson joining the Nuggets. "There is no 'Melo dialogue, has not been and will never be," the source said. "It's a figment of their imagination."
The same apparently goes for the story that Toronto was listening to offers for former No. 1 pick Andreas Bargnani. A different league executive said Bargnani has never been discussed in any conversations with the Nets.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
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