Los Angeles - With one eye on the present and the other on the future, the New York Knicks made a bold move by unloading their top two scorers, Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, in separate trades. The Knicks on Friday acquired forward Al Harrington from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for sharpshooting guard Crawford.
Just a few hours later, New York shipped starting forward Randolph and backup guard Mardy Collins out west to the bottom-feeding LA Clippers in exchange for guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas.
By trading Randolph (20.5 points per game) and Crawford (19.6 points per game), the Knicks cleared salary cap space with the hope of enticing a marquee player like Cleveland's LeBron James, Miami's Dwyane Wade, Toronto's Chris Bosh and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire to sign as a free agent in the summer of 2010.
"I think the players we are bringing in will be able to play Mike's style, and they are all good players," said Knicks president and general manager Donnie Walsh, referring to coach D'Antoni. "It will give us cap flexibility down the road, so that opens up our future a little bit for us. That was what the trades were about today."
Walsh said he was was delighted to acquire Harrington, who played for him as a member of the Indiana Pacers. The versatile forward averaged 13.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 81 games last season with Golden State. He is averaging 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in five games during the 2008-09 campaign, but was unhappy at Golden State and wanted out.
"I drafted Al back in 1998, and I think his talents are a great fit for our style of play," Walsh said. "This trade also gives us more long-term flexibility while enabling us to remain competitive this season."
In four-plus seasons, Crawford finished his Knicks career as the franchise's 25th all-time leading scorer with 5,269 points.
"I'm shocked," Crawford told the New York Times. "I knew they were trying to clear space and all of that, but I didn't know I was one of the guys that was looking to get cleared."
D'Antoni expressed relief that the Knicks made the moves at this time.
"I'm glad we did it early rather than blowing up the team later," he said. "I think the guys are going to come in and be a bonus."
The moves have been part of the plan since both Walsh and D'Antoni came to the club several months ago.
"We cleared a lot of salary cap room - that was our big thing - and we didn't compromise the season," D'Antoni said. "Obviously, we have a long-term plan and that was the plan the very first day. But at the same time, we are not throwing this season away and not thinking we are not going to make the playoffs. I think we really can."
In exchange for Randolph, the Knicks received Mobley, the Clippers' fourth-leading scorer this season, averaging 13.7 points. In 12 seasons, he owns career averages of 14.7 points and 4.1 assists with four teams.
Thomas has averaged 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds. In his 12 NBA seasons, he owns career averages of 11.8 points and 4.2 boards with six different clubs.
The Clippers were happy to welcome Randolph, who owns career averages of 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds, to help them dig their way out of a 2-10 start.
"Getting a player like Zach cost us two highly skilled veterans, but we feel that the move will help us both now and in the future," Clippers coach and general manager Mike Dunleavy said.
