Knicks Free-Agency Bonanza!

Late last night, things started to heat up on the Knicks’ free-agency front. A bunch of things have circulated, so let’s take a second to look at what’s out there.

According to David Aldridge, the Knicks have offered J.J. Barea a two year deal using the new “room” exception, valued at $2,500,000 a year.

This is both exciting and madening, depending how you look at it. In one way, this could be a great addition. Should Barea accept this offer, it should be considered a steal. Sure, he may not be the most gifted defensive player, due to his height, nor can he knock down uncontested shots consistently, but he can bring the ball up the floor in a split second, and he can run around the offensive side of the court, creating multiple holes in the opposing defense. Adding Barea would fill the Knicks’ vacant spot at the point-guard position, but possibly elimate the Knicks’ shot at re-signing Shawne Williams.

Shawne Williams was expected to release his decision yesterday regarding where he will sign, but we were left stranded without an answer.

Many Knicks fans appreciate how Shawne played last year and would be devastated should he not return. If the Knicks dish the “room” exception to Barea, Williams will be in a tough place: should he take a larger monetary offer elsewhere, or should he accpet to play for the Knicks, the team that gave him a shot when no one else did, for the league’s minimum salary (he can be signed to a two-year minimum deal, should he want a longer commitment).

On Twitter, I asked, “Since it seems extremely unlikely we can resign Shawne Williams AND sign JJ Barea, who would you guys prefer on the Knicks?” Here are three of the replies. The first two were pretty common… the last one was pretty confident in Shawne Williams.

More after the jump…

@TheKnicksWall Shawne, He provides a competent backup for both sf and pf. He stretches the floor is a deadly shooter and very solid defender

— Matthew Starr (@MatthStarr) December 11, 2011

@TheKnicksWall shawne williams.. we gave him a chance and he stepped up.. hard worker, great role player, plays D, deadly 3pt shot

— Ivan (@Fish_NYK) December 11, 2011

@TheKnicksWall I think that JJ is a great energy guy… Shawne brings more toughness the team needs. He reminds me alot of Oakley… lol..

— Neamul Huq (@yanksrule3) December 11, 2011

Then the change-up came:

The New York Knicks have emerged as a surprising suitor for Jamal Crawford. Details: tinyurl.com/7wtazpn

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) December 11, 2011

Supposedly the Knicks are trying to come to terms with ex-Knicks, and current free-agent, Jamal Crawford.

How would that work, you ask?

Well, there are three options:

1. Knicks withdraw their offer to Barea and offer Crawford the “room” exception, hoping he will take a pay-cut to play for them.
2. Knicks keep the room exception offer to Barea in play, or even switch it over to Shawne Williams, and Jamal Crawford takes a DRASTIC pay-cut and comes to play in New York for the veteran-minimum.
3. Knicks complete a sign-and-trade with the Hawks.

Built around Renaldo Balkman’s $1.67 million deal, Bill Walker’s $916,000 deal and Toney Douglas’ $1.145 million deal, the Knicks would be sending out $3.73 million in salaries. The new collective bargaining agreement would allow New York to take back 150 percent plus or minus $100,000, which would give Crawford a starting salary of $5.6 million.