Crawford Deal- By Marc Berman??

When did Marc Berman start writing for the New York Post?

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/26100.htm

CRAWFORD KNICK DEAL IS AT HAND

By PETER VECSEY and MARC BERMAN
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ON THE MOVE:
Thanks to Bulls' latest counter-offer, Jamal Crawford is expected to become a Knick as soon as today.


August 3, 2004 -- Bull combo guard Jamal Crawford could become a Knick as soon as today, as Chicago GM John Paxson has made a counter-offer that Knick president Isiah Thomas is expected to accept, according to sources.
Paxson has removed two overpaid swingmen — the Knicks' Shandon Anderson and the Bulls' Eddie Robinson — from the deal, allowing the Bulls to save an additional $10 million in future payroll.

Though Thomas wanted to move Anderson, it appears Paxson is willing to accept Moochie Norris in a compromise the Knick president couldn't refuse.

Meanwhile, The Post has also learned Golden State center Erick Dampier will visit the Knicks in New York this week, an indication the Knicks are still very much in the hunt.

If the Crawford deal goes through as expected, the Knicks still have the pawns to trade for Dampier or at least be in position to award him the mid-level exception. Nazr Mohammed, Kurt Thomas and Othella Harrington are all available in a Dampier package.

In a related story, the Hawks are now talking to Dallas about Antoine Walker.

Meanwhile, the pared-down Crawford package would likely include Dikembe Mutombo, Norris and $3 million moving to the Bulls for Jerome Williams and Crawford, at the very least. It's unclear if the newest offer attempted to bring back Frank Williams in the package. Crawford would sign a six-year, $55 million contract.



Paxson had expressed his desire to jettison both Williams and Robinson in this trade. Although Paxson thought Anderson could be a good defensive role player, his contract that has three years and $23.7 million left on it is one of the NBA's worst, more severe than Robinson's (2 years, $14M). Isiah had hoped to rid himself of Anderson, whose offensive performance in the playoffs was pitiful.

The sign-and-trade talks for the Bulls combo guard has been interminable, lasting all of July and hitting another roadblock a week ago when the two sides met face-to-face in the Windy City Summit at O'Hare Airport with Isiah trying to convince the Bulls Norris' pact is not insufferable because the last year is not guaranteed.

On Saturday, agent Aaron Goodwin said progress was made since the summit and a source indicated the sides had moved on past the Moochie issue. "I'm a little frustrated, but it will get better," Goodwin told The Post Saturday. "Chicago wants the perfect deal. We're trying to get them to accept a very good one."

Goodwin declined comment last night.


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Personally, I know Crawford isnt the right type of PG for the Rockets, but I still wanted to get him becuase of his versatility.. oh well.. WHEN WILL WE GET OUR PG?!