Walsh says he doesn't put a lot of emphasis on performances at the summer league, but instead is more interested in mingling with the executives from the 20 other NBA teams that participate in it. After signing guard Chris Duhon, Walsh said earlier this week that he is not finished retooling the roster He will remain involved in trade talks throughout the summer with an eye on jettisoning some of the bigger contracts while also filling holes in the roster.

It's worth mentioning that before guard Baron Davis finally agreed to a five-year, $65-million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday, his representatives checked out the Knicks' interest in him, a source told Newsday. In May, Newsday reported that Davis, before he decided to opt out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors, reached out through intermediaries to see if the Knicks had any interest in acquiring him in a trade.

"It clearly seemed that New York would have been Baron's first choice if there were a fit," said a person with knowledge of Davis' situation.

Walsh never got too deeply involved in pursuing Davis because the Knicks, with an eye on being under the salary cap by 2010, would not commit contractually to anything beyond 2010 in a sign-and-trade scenario.

There are other situations still brewing. The most notable involves another Warriors guard, Monta Ellis, who is a restricted free agent and, according to multiple sources, has a desire to play in D'Antoni's system. A person with knowledge of the situation said a sign-and-trade is a long shot, however, because a third team would have to be involved to make the deal work for both sides. The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers are in hot pursuit, just in case Warriors executive Chris Mullin decides to trade Ellis.

Walsh plans on staying involved in all of the talk but likely will put more emphasis on making smaller moves to improve specific areas of the team, such as perimeter shooting. Long Islander Wally Szczerbiak is being shopped by the Cleveland Cavaliers ( the Nets reportedly declined a trade that would have sent the rapidly declining Vince Carter and his hefty contract the other way), and he fits in so many ways. Szczerbiak is an excellent shooter and, perhaps just as important, he has an expiring contract...FULL ARTICLE

Teams with a payroll above $67.865 million last season are required to pay one tax dollar for every dollar they sit over the threshold. That total, for the Knicks, is nearly $20 million -- $19,723,946 to be exact.

Buyout

Marbury has one year remaining on his contract worth $21.5 million. The Knicks could negotiate a buyout of that amount and cut him from the roster. The buyout amount, likely slightly less than the full contract, would still count against the salary cap, but just for this season. Marbury would be free to sign with any other NBA team. Chances: Most likely.

Trade

An expiring contract has value on the trade market and there are teams out there - Boston, Miami, San Antonio and Golden State, to name a few - that are in need of a quality backup point guard. The Knicks could try to swing a deal for a player or players who better fit their plans, yet also have contracts that expire before 2010. The only problem here is any team with an interest in Marbury knows they can get him as a free agent once the Knicks buy him out. Chances: Possible.

Keep him

Considering that he is playing for what would likely be his last NBA contract, Marbury may be motivated to play hard and keep a more disciplined mental approach. And if he isn't and instead once again becomes a distraction, you can always put him on the inactive list and pay him to stay away. It's a high risk/reward option. Chances: Least likely....FULL ARTICLE

The Knicks bought out Gallinari's contract with Milan for $500,000. Second-year man Wilson Chandler, plus 2006 first-rounders Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, also will play, as will Nate Robinson, who will do it for the fourth straight year.

The Knicks will hold an adjacent voluntary minicamp in which Marbury and Duhon are expected to participate. Curry considered playing a summer-league game to test his surgically repaired knee but will only work out....FULL ARTICLE

Walsh also wants to evaluate disappointing second-year point guard Mardy Collins and combo guard Nate Robinson during summer league.

Walsh told a confidant last week he wants Duhon to push Marbury in training camp. But Walsh, a lawyer, has made misleading statements before during his brief Knicks reign.

"It's premature," one source said of Marbury's release. "That hasn't been decided. There are other things that can happen."

Despite the company line of evaluating the roster in August, this doesn't reek of a basketball decision. Marbury is better than any PG the Knicks have, but it seems the team wants Marbury back only as a last resort.

Marbury will perhaps become the scapegoat for last year's sexual harassment defeat, or his exit could become a symbol of next season's "fresh start."

Despite attempts, it's unlikely Marbury can be traded because they'd have to take back $21 million of contracts that expire before 2010.

Jamal Crawford, being shopped because his contract goes into 2010, could be traded, creating a stronger need for Marbury, whom Mike D'Antoni hasn't discounted playing alongside Duhon.

His friends say Marbury isn't worried about future employment if released. The Celtics would be on his radar, considering they need point-guard help and former teammate Kevin Garnett respects his game more than anyone....FULL ARTICLE

Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni fully understand that Duhon can’t compare to Marbury when it comes to pure talent. But Walsh and D’Antoni also realize that you can’t change the culture at Madison Square Garden without removing the player who has come to symbolizes everything we despise about the Knicks this decade.

Marbury has been the Knicks franchise player for five years and he has done more to harm the franchise in that time than just about any player in club history. It is time to move on. Walsh and D’Antoni know it and deep down I believe that Marbury knows that he needs a change of venue. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up on Miami or becomes a back-up with San Antonio or Boston.

The uninformed will buy into Marbury’s claim that “this will be my year.” Here’s another newsflash: He’s been saying that for the past five years. Maybe things will be better for Marbury in the 2008-09 season but it just won’t happen in New York.

Walsh and D’Antoni need to rebuild the roster and improve the chemistry in the locker room. Removing Marbury accomplishes both goals. We know, we know. Duhon is no Marbury. And that’s what we like about him already. - The Daily News

Ellis, 22, a restricted free agent, is starting to draw a great deal of attention in several sign-and-trade scenarios. A person with knowledge of the situation said nine teams have made inquiries about Ellis. The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have shown the most interest. The Knicks, who are searching for point guard help, are not one of those teams, but a second source said the Knicks have been monitoring the situation. Warriors executive vice president Chris Mullin has maintained he intends to sign Ellis.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Mullin are close, so Walsh won't act unless Mullin is ready to deal. The source said the potential of an Ellis-Jamal Crawford backcourt "would be dynamic" in the Mike D'Antoni system. Both players averaged 20 points per game this past season. A person close to Ellis said the lightning-quick guard "would be very interested in the Knicks" and especially playing for D'Antoni....FULL ARTICLE

1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand reports that if the Knicks don't land Chris Duhon, then Sebastian Telfair may be next on their point guard list. Telfair's agent, Andy Miller, told Marchand, the Knicks have called about Telfair.
"We have had some discussions," Miller said. "There is interest on both sides."

Miller says there are five teams interested in Telfair. Telfair's cousin is Stephon Marbury.

Sources have said that the Knicks verbally offered Duhon a two year deal worth approximately $3-4 million per. All indications are that Duhon would like to play for the Knicks; the only bump in the road might be the length of the contract offer from New York. The Knicks are adamant about not signing a contract for a point guard longer than two years as that is the magic number to ensuring that in 2010 they have plenty of salary cap space and flexibility to sign a big name free agent. Duhon also has visits lined up with the Magic, Heat, and Nuggets......... Should Duhon decide to pass on the deal with the Knicks and play elsewhere, the Knicks still have a variety of short term point guard options they could pursue. Carlos Arroyo, Keyon Dooling, Sebastian Telfair, Tyronn Lue, Sam Cassell, Anthony Carter, Jason Williams, and Dan Dickau are a few that come to mind..... FULL STORY

Moving Crawford right now for anything like a Mobley is stupid on many levels. First, Jamal has a chance to be an all-star in this system. Seriously. My man's arm might fall off from all the shots he'll get up in a game, but his game is made for the D'Antoni philosophy....FULL ARTICLE

Bulls backup point guard Chris Duhon, during a visit to the KnicksNew York Knicks ' Westchester campus on Day 1 of free agency yesterday, met with coach Mike D'Antoni and was offered a two-year contract believed to be more than $7 million, according to league sources.

Duhon was mulling the offer last night and could accept as soon as today.

The Knicks believe Duhon is the pure playmaking point the club does not have, making him a good fit. Duhon's assist-to-turnover ratio last season was nearly 4-1.

There's been erroneous speculation Marbury could be bought out if the Knicks sign a PG. Duhon, the former Duke star, will instead compete for the starting job with Marbury, who is in Hollywood training and has been assured he'll be at camp.

Duhon gives the Knicks insurance if Marbury is not the same in camp after returning from ankle surgery at 31....FULL ARTICLE

Knicks officials met with free-agent point guard Chris Duhon Tuesday and lost out on one of their other second-tier targets, Beno Udrih of Sacramento.

Duhon heard from several other teams Tuesday and is intent on weighing his options. After meeting with the Knicks, he headed to Orlando for a meeting with Magic officials Wednesday. The Knicks are looking at free-agent point guards, such as Miami's Jason Williams and Denver's Anthony Carter, before exploring trade possibilities such as Portland's Steve Blake and Charlotte's Raymond Felton.

"Nothing" is happening on the trade front involving David Lee, according to another person with knowledge of the Knicks' plans. The team has fielded plenty of calls about the rebounding specialist, but isn't actively shopping him yet. Zach Randolph -- who has three years and a whopping $48 million left -- has attracted some inquiries, according to the person, who said the team isn't likely to be active in the trade market until the free-agent negotiating period ends July 9....FULL ARTICLE

They used to roll out a red carpet and pull up the yacht, but rules put into place in recent years limited Chris Duhon to a tour of the MSG Training Center and lunch.

He visited with team officials today, according to a Knicks source.

There’s a chance his agent will call back to fill in the blanks at some point this evening, but it’s usually a good sign when a free agent is willing to do the legwork. It’s also possible Duhon came looking for leverage. Miami appears to be interested, as well, so a stopover in New York could be worth an extra year on a potential deal.

If nothing else, this aggressive pursuit of a playmaker confirms Stephon Marbury could soon be negotiating a buyout. - Mike Dougherty's Knicks Knacks Blog

Got word that Wilson Chandler recently was cleared for workouts and is expected to participate in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The games begin July 11, but the Knicks first game isn't until the 14th - FULL ARTICLE

After a series of meetings between James Dolan, Knicks GM Donnie Walsh, and Head Coach Mike D’Antoni it has become apparent that the long term future of the organization does not include Stephon Marbury. There are concerns among D’Antoni’s coaching staff that keeping Marbury around to play out his contract will have an ill effect on the team unity that D’Antoni would like to create among his players....FULL ARTICLE

If the Clippers are unable to land Davis, another option may be to trade guard Cuttino Mobley for the New York Knicks' Jamal Crawford, according to the source. Maggette has been contacted by several NBA teams, including t