The Knicks Fix

OK, so two blogs ago I shot this idea down....get ready for a flip-flop.

I made a few calls and checked with a few people on Wednesday in the midst of the Kobe Bryant drama and discovered that the Knicks are very much going to pursue a sign-and-trade for Seattle's Rashard Lewis. Not only that, but they are quite confident they have what it takes to make the deal happen.

Read my story in today's Newsday Download file

Isiah yesterday really put up a good argument that supported what we've been discussing on the blog recently; the idea of staying the course and not dumping any more lengthy contracts on a payroll that is set to finally get under the cap in two seasons. But the high-ranking person I spoke with after Thomas' comments told me that, despite the fact it would be at least a five-year deal, the 28-year-old Lewis was an exception to that rule.

Why? He's a young all-star caliber player, like Jermaine O'Neal. But his game is more outside-inside, as opposed to O'Neal, who would be sharing time in the post with Curry. And unlike Kevin Garnett, Lewis is much younger and would be had for far less than KG's contract.

As I said Lewis is a 3 and the Knicks, I thought, were more in need of a 4-spot player, a power forward who could defend the post and rebound. I still feel that way, but I can't deny Lewis is a high-end talent who is one of the best three-point shooters in the league. And as Gmal said in his comment, the Knicks were one of the top rebounding teams in the NBA for most of the season. David Lee, off the bench, led them with 10 a game for most of the year.

At 6-10, Lewis isn't a dominant rebounder, but more importantly he is a 20-points-per game player who is difficult to defend on the perimeter, so teams would have matchup problems stopping Lewis and Curry. And when Curry is out of the game, Lewis can move down to the post. With Marbury and a healthy Quentin Richardson, the Knicks will have plenty of outside threats to keep the heat off Curry.

As for interior defense, the Knicks will have to hope Jared Jeffries is better than he showed this past season. Plus, if Curry wants to be an all-star, he must add defense and rebounding to his list of priorities every game. He's got to get quicker and he's got to get smarter, but more than anything, he's got to get meaner on D.

So in this potential deal, who would go the other way? You might think the Sonics would want to start the conversation with Seattle native Jamal Crawford. But with Ray Allen already there, Jamal would be a very expensive sixth man for the Sonics, unless they tried playing them together in the backcourt. Channing Frye would almost certainly be in the discussion because he would replace some of Lewis' outside touch and size. Frye might actually finally blossom in Seattle because he'd have the low post to himself and he could play off of Kevin Durant, whom the Sonics are expected to pick at No. 2.

The Sonics really need a point guard, but though Nate Robinson, also a Seattle native, would draw interest from the fans, he's not a pure PG, as we know. Don't even try to suggest the Sonics would take Steve Francis' contract.

Clearly the Knicks will have to get creative and they might even have some competition. But right now we're just speculating. First the Sonics have to get Lewis to agree on a number and then they can decide what they can get in the open market.

Camp Observations after Day 1

Sean Singletary, a speedy 6-foot guard out of Virginia, stood out in the morning scrimmage as most speedy guards do in these situations. I also liked the energy D.J. Strawberry -- Darryl's son -- showed, but if he wants to make it to the NBA, he's gotta knock down some shots . . . You know that bruising power forward-type I'm so obsessed with? Keep an eye on Ryvon Covile, a chiseled 6-9, 250-pounder from Detroit who was quite active. Not the best hands, but he looked like a man among boys in the paint . . . As I wrote today, Thomas said he feels he can "take a flier" with the No. 23 pick because the team already has Randolph Morris. I noticed how he talked up Florida's Taurean Green, the point guard from the two-time national champs. He'd be a project, but in two years when Stephon Marbury's contract is up, perhaps he'd be ready to either play a backup to Mardy Collins or step into the starting role . . . Knicks assistant coach Mark Aguirre is coaching Team No. 4 here, if that means anything to you. Aguirre has also worked the drills and is getting a bird's eye view of players.

Speaking of Knicks assistants, I spotted Herb Williams chatting with Michael Jordan as they left the Milk House Gym here and after Michael stepped away (dude, lose the mustache already), I said to Herb, "Now let me guess, that conversation started with, 'Now how are you hiring Sam Vincent instead of me?'" Herb laughed and said, "That thought did cross my mind!" But Herb, one of the great people among the Knicks organization, said he was cool with everything and said his interest in a head coaching job is just how every assistant coach thinks. No calls yet from Seattle, Orlando or Indiana.

And finally, walking outside the complex during the evening session, I spotted a golf cart coming my way shuttling a few coaches to the parking lot. On the back of this cart was Larry Legend himself, facing the rear and sitting slumped and with his head practically through the roof of the cart. He had that typical Indiana farmboy deadpan expression as the cart putted him down the sidewalk. One of those priceless moments.