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Can the Knicks make a deal?

by Chad Ford

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The clock is ticking on Scott Layden's latest last chance to turn around the fortunes of the Knicks before the team falls into five years of lottery misery.

The Knicks' $4.5 million disabled player's exception (the one they got from the league when Antonio McDyess was ruled out for the season) is set to expire Monday, Dec. 2nd.

There are no decent free agents to speak of. No big men who fit into that salary range worth breaking the bank over. And despite numerous attempts, no one's willing to take Latrell Sprewell off their hands in some sort of package deal.

Knicks fans and media critics can howl all that they want that Layden has to do something. The devil, as always, is in the details. How do the Knicks make a significant trade when no one in the league wants the players on their team?

The Knicks' roster sports a couple of overpaid, over-the-hill stars and a gaggle overpaid role players. Now that fiscal responsibility has hit the NBA, most teams wouldn't touch anyone on their roster, no matter how good the deal is.

Allan Houston makes $14.3 million this year and still has five years left on his contract. Sprewell makes $12.4 million and still has three years left on his. Shandon Anderson makes $6.1 million and has five years left. Howard Eisley makes $5.3 million and has five years left. Clarence Weatherspoon makes $4.9 million and has four years left.

In other words, five of the Knicks' six highest-paid players don't have a chance in [censored] of being traded unless New York gets back an even higher-paid flop with an even longer contract.

The biggest name on the list, Spree, has been rumored to be going to Portland, Milwaukee, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix. The Bucks, Pistons and Mavs have already gone on record claiming they won't trade for Spree. Portland GM Bob Whitsitt's remarks this week, that he was changing his philosophy toward adding troubled players to the team, virturally guarantees the Blazers are out of the hunt. That leaves only the Suns. All they have to offer is Penny Hardaway, which just so happens to be an even higher-paid flop with an even longer contract.

Kurt Thomas

Forward-Center

New York Knicks

Profile

2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS

GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%

13 16.8 9.2 2.5 .500 .588

But don't jump off the bridge just yet. There are a couple of moves out there that the Knicks can make. Kurt Thomas is reasonably paid. His ability to play in the post makes him coveted by several teams in desperate need of some low-post help. Charlie Ward is way overpaid, but his $2 million team buyout on his contract for next season makes him attractive trade bait.

None of these hypothetical moves will turn around the fortunes of the franchise this season. But each of them would inject the team with a some youth and, more important, some hope.

Tim Thomas

Power Forward

Milwaukee Bucks

Profile

2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS

GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%

14 10.7 4.4 1.6 .434 .667

1. Trade Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward to Bucks for Tim Thomas and Ervin Johnson.

Why the Knicks would do it: The Knicks need youth and size in the worst way and Thomas is one of the few young players oozing potential still on the market. He's struggled in his new starting role for Milwaukee. But his versatility and athleticism are all things that the Knicks could use. He's locked up for the next four years, giving the Knicks plenty of time to develop him. Johnson's salary would fit in the Knicks' disabled players exception slot. While he isn't a dominant center by any means, he's a big upgrade over Michael Doleac or anything else the team has.

Why the Bucks would do it: George Karl has been searching for some frontcourt toughness for ages. With the Bucks struggling to get out of the gate, the team is anxious to avoid another lottery appearance this summer. Thomas' ability to play the four or the five makes him a valuable addition to the Bucks. His rebounding, toughness and ability to score in the post would give the Bucks something they haven't had since Vin Baker was in Milwaukee. Anthony Mason, Toni Kukoc and Michael Redd can compensate for Thomas' loss. The presence of Joel Przybilla, Dan Gadzuric and Thomas means that Johnson won't be missed. But the biggest reason the Bucks pull the trigger on this is financial. The move would allow them to cut $4 million off their payroll this season -- meaning that they'll avoid the luxury tax (priority No. 1 for owner Herb Kohl). Next year, the team will be able to buy out Ward's contract, giving it the flexibility to use the $4.5 mid level exception without worrying about the tax.

Vladimir Radmanovic

Forward-Center

Seattle SuperSonics

Profile

2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS

GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%

16 10.6 5.4 1.5 .434 .714

2. Trade Kurt Thomas to the Sonics for Calvin Booth and Vladimir Radmanovic

Why the Knicks would do it: Booth has proved to be a major stiff in Seattle, but he's a 7-footer with shot blocking skills and he's relatively young. The prize is Radmanovic, a 6-foot-10 sweet shooting forward. To make the deal work, Radmanovic would fit into the Knicks' disabled player's exception. Radmanovic is the type of young talent the Knicks have been ignoring for years. And, we hear he's close with second-round draftee, point guard Milos Vujanic. When Vujanic (who leads the Euroleague in scoring) joins the Knicks next season, the team will have the beginnings of a young tandem to give fans hope through the lean years.

Why the Sonics would do it: They love Radmanovic, but they have several other players who have similar games. With Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason playing great, Radmanovic's minutes have been sporadic. The Sonics would love to turn him into a four, but right now he looks much more comfortable playing on the perimeter. Coach Nate McMillan's complaints about Radmanovic's defense (or lack thereof) have been increasing. The Sonics' latest swoon is proving that the team needs to get a tough, blue collar low-post threat. Thomas would be a perfect fit in Seattle's system. He's athletic enough to get up and down the floor, can play alongside Jerome James at the four or move over to the five and play next to Lewis. The move would also save the cost-conscious Sonics close to $2 million in payroll this season. That should be enough to move them out of luxury-tax range this year. And next year it will give them an extra $2 million to play with on the free-agent market.