http://newyorkpost.com/sports/knicks/35973.htm
By MARC BERMAN
December 8, 2004 -- KNICK NOTES
MEMPHIS — Perhaps Dec. 15 will break the Vince Carter stalemate. That's always a target date when players who signed free-agent contracts can be traded.
It just so happens that Jamal Crawford's contract can be shipped that day. Not that Isiah Thomas is ready to add Crawford into discussions come Dec. 15.
For some reason, Thomas thinks he's got a chance at Carter with his underwhelming standing offer of Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway for Carter and Jalen Rose.
The Raptors have rejected that offer since summer when Carter's agents tried to broker a deal. But Isiah is still willing to wait, feeling Raptors GM Rob Babcock will get increasingly desperate to remove the high-flying malcontent. Rose said this week he is certain a deal will go down soon.
With Hardaway taking an MRI today in New York after shutting it down indefinitely with a hamstring strain, Babcock can't move on that offer even if he originally liked it. As a first-year GM, how can Babcock sell that trade to the fans? It would be a pure salary dump, saving $48 million. He is expected to wait for more opportunities to open up Dec. 15.
The Toronto Star reported that Allan Houston's name has come up, replacing Hardaway. But his contract doesn't fit well with Toronto's cost-cutting strategy. Potentially, the Raptors get either more talent or a gigantic risk with arthritic knees. Any Houston deal will have to wait until he proves himself. The Raptors would still save money — more than $20M — in a Houston/Thomas for Carter/Rose package.
Smartly, Isiah will never trade Stephon Marbury for Carter. How could he with Marbury on the verge of a career year and Carter hitting his nadir? Putting Crawford in the deal would add to its complexities since his first-year wage is only $6M, forcing more salaries to be included.
In Isiah's favor, few teams want both Carter and Rose's pacts, heavy favorite Portland the exception with billionaire owner Paul Allen.