<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>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.</div> Source: Newsday
The New York media will say anything. But if Baron is trying to explore different teams in a possible s & t deal, it gives him some feedback regarding his overall value. If Baron has no bargaining leverage, he'll never get what he wants this offseason and it'll probably affect next offseason if his upcoming season isn't a good one. That part of the story I believe is true, but then they go on to suggest Ellis to the Knicks... and that's where I stopped reading. The NY press could later go on to suggest Melo and Lebron in a Knicks uniform together and Dwight Howard and Chris Paul coming to the team... eh... right... The warriors would be stupid to let go of Ellis over Baron. So the news article should have kept it simple and focussed on possible s & t's for Baron Davis. They wouldn't have much to offer unless they gave us some really nice role players and maybe some future picks. On the Knicks, I like David Lee and maybe Jamaal Crawford. But mentioning Ellis in the topic just wasn't germane to the Baron Davis issue especially because Ellis wasn't mentioned as being considered most likely untouchable. It'd be like Oakland talking about s & t for Lebron James, when Cleveland was in excellent cap situation. No way is a team going to let their stars go if they can afford to match any offers.
Wow... Whoever wrote this article really doesn't know anything about bird right. Why do we have a problem resigning both Monta and Biedrins in terms of cap room? Not that I expect much from NY media, but...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kwan1031 @ Jun 2 2008, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow... Whoever wrote this article really doesn't know anything about bird right. Why do we have a problem resigning both Monta and Biedrins in terms of cap room? Not that I expect much from NY media, but...</div> Ah jeez I thought they were confused and talking about luxury tax and not salary cap... And yes, you're right bird rights allow a team to match any competing offer as well as go over the team salary cap (if there was that problem to begin with). Good catch, Kwan. I just saw Monta Ellis parts and I was like oh man, time to stop. I wasn't really carefully reading it since it's typical NY media garbage.
