For how talented Crawford is he's also a bit poisonous, no doubt. All i'm saying is from the Knicks' standpoint I think this move makes little sense considering their frightening backcourt depth without Crawford. And you speak as if people haven't been calling Harrington selfish his entire career. For a player that has the Antoine Walker mindset it's hard to think otherwise.
So if this trade goes down, the Knicks can sign two players to max contracts in 2010. I believe it will be a lock that they will get at least one of LeBron, Wade, or Bosh. They MIGHT even get two of the three.
Warriors, Knicks agree in principle on Crawford-Harrington deal The Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks have agreed in principle on a deal that would swap disgruntled Warriors forward Al Harrington for Knicks guard Jamal Crawford. ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported early Friday that the teams were nearing completion on a deal featuring Harrington and Crawford. ESPN.com has since confirmed that those two players, barring a late adjustment, would be the only two involved in the trade. Although neither team has yet commented on the deal, sources said both clubs were hoping to reach the conference-call stage to secure the required league approval by the day's end on Friday. Harrington went public with a trade demand just before the start of the season after privately urging Golden State to move him for months. New York had immediate interest, seeing the versatile and mobile Harrington as an ideal frontcourt fit in new coach Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system. Knicks president Donnie Walsh, furthermore, might be Harrington's biggest fan in the league; he drafted the 28-year-old in 1998 and brought him back to Indiana in a deal with Atlanta in the summer of 2006. But Harrington's second stint with the Pacers lasted only a half-season before he was dealt to Golden State in January 2007, along with Stephen Jackson. Reuniting with Harrington will come at a cost for Walsh: It will require the Knicks to part with Crawford, their leading scorer and another player they had pegged to flourish under D'Antoni. The Warriors, according to NBA front-office sources, see Crawford as a versatile guard who, although not a pure floor leader, can function well in coach Don Nelson's system while Monta Ellis recovers from ankle surgery -- and in tandem with Ellis once he returns. Yet it's believed that Walsh has multiple motivations for re-acquiring one of his favorites. Another sizable lure is Harrington's contract, which pays him $9.2 million this season, $10 million next season and expires after the 2009-10 campaign. That meshes with New York's intent to slice payroll and get as far under the salary cap as possible for the highly anticipated free-agent summer of 2010 to join the bidding for Cleveland's LeBron James. Crawford is scoring 19.6 points per game this season after averaging a career-best 20.6 points per game and 5.0 assists last season. Assuming Crawford declines a player option to become a free agent in July 2009, his deal would run through the 2010-11 season, paying $8.6 million this season, $9.4 million in 2009-10 and $10 million in 2010-11. Harrington has played only five games this season, averaging 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds before missing Golden State's past six games with a back injury. Nelson told ESPN.com on the first weekend of the season that the Warriors would "try to accommodate" Harrington, but not when the Knicks were looking to part with center Eddy Curry as opposed to Crawford. Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3717209
The responses in this thread are puzzling. Any deal that unloads Randolph is a good deal. It doesn't matter what the Knicks do in the short term. It's about cleaning up the mess Isiah left and getting a clean slate. If it takes trading Crawford to unload Randolph, so be it. Mobley, Thomas, and Al Harrington are irrelevant.
Very true, So is Z-Bo involved? Are the Clippers involved? Is Cat relevant now with Mike Dantoni at the helm? Zach must be involved, or else the Knicks would have Al Harrington Z-Bo David Lee Wilson Chandler all looking to get heavy minutes......... The Clipper deal is starting to make more sense but, seriously?
Why do people keep saying that Z-bo is playing so well for Dantoni. He has the worst fg% he's had his whole career. Scoring is supposed to be easier when you play for him. Their not losing a superstar here. This is obviously a salary dump and i think they're getting a comparable player in Al Harrington back. I don't see much downside from the Knicks' standpoint.
If they get rid of Zbo it is a great deal, but all the official mentions are with Jamal..... RealGM is the only place to mention Randolph lol........
Interesting trade! Who's going to score for the Knicks backcourt? Another move coming? It looks like the priority for Walsh is to re-structure the salaries.
Could this open up time for Marbury (I know, I know) But honestly it just does not make much since unless something else is happening........ (Jamal Crawford for Al Harrington straight up appears to be the deal...)
You're right - Crawford is not a superstar, but he's a better player than Al Harrington isn't he? So it's a salary dump. And (according to ESPN) Randolph isn't involved.
I don't know if i believe that. I think Harrington can play inside (against smalls) and outside (against bigs) and he can rebound. Neither of them are good defenders. Crawford is a good shooter but he doesn't do anything to help his teammates, atleast Harrington creates great spacing as a shooting 4.
Is this the end of Anthony Morrow? Is Al Harrington even going to get the play time he demanded in Golden State with Randolph, Lee, and Chandler in the mix?
If, and only if, this leads to Zach Randolph getting dealt to the Clips is this a good move for the Knicks. And even if so, it makes the D'Antoni signing a complete waste of cash. Hire Scottie Pippen as your coach if you just want someone to take the fan abuse as you wait for summer 2010. Del Negro and D'Antoni really ended up in the wrong places.
"Makes sense. Warriors are loaded with guards to get another. Knicks are loaded with forwards, so get another." Just read that on another message board
Good news for the rockets! Harrington is a fronter. He's a master at playing that unconvetional D on yao.
Just the beginning. He is way too good to not continue to see significant PT. He will take the role of Matt Barnes from a couple of years ago. Crawford can take the role Jason Richardson played. Hopefully Monta Ellis can be fully healthy and take a similar role of Baron Davis. This move for Crawford reminds me of Nelly building a team similar to that of 2 years ago. So basically significant losses: Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Matt Barnes and soon to be Al Harrington. Siginifant additions: Maggette, Morrow, Azubuike, and soon to be Jamaal Crawford. I'd say the roster from 05-06 was much better but with improved play and rise to stardom of Monta Ellis (granted he keeps improving and is fully healthy) and Biedrins and surprise of Morrow and signs of life from Brandon Wright they should be more than competitive and will run a lot of teams to death.
I hope you are right, I just don't see alot of time with....... Jamal Crawford Stephen Jackson Corey Maggete Kelenna Azubuike The guy should be getting 35+ but I just don't see it happening...... Maybe if he goes off again tonight......
