[h1]If San Antonio guard Tony Parker becomes available, New York Knicks could be willing trade partner[/h1]
BY
Frank Isola
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Franklin/AP
With the emergence of point guard George Hill (below), the San Antonio Spurs may be more willing to part with Tony Parker (above), a player that fits the New York Knicks' needs.
CLEVELAND - The emergence of point guard
George Hill this season and in the playoffs for the
San Antonio Spurs could not have come at a better time for the
Knicks.
With
Donnie Walsh in the market for a point guard, there are reports that San Antonio would consider trading
Tony Parker, who lost his starting job to Hill and has told close friends he and his actress wife,
Eva Longoria, would love to relocate to New York.
"Pop loves George and I could see a scenario where he would trade Tony," said a Spurs source, referring to San Antonio coach
Gregg Popovich. "Tony will be looking for a max deal and New York may pay him."
Parker, who turns 28 this week, is under contract through next season and there are several factors that could prevent a trade from happening. With the Knicks having traded away their first-round picks for the next two years, they don't have many assets to trade unless they are willing to part with
Danilo Gallinari or
Wilson Chandler, the latter of whom is recovering from offseason ankle surgery for the second time in two years. Of course, if the Knicks are willing to take on Spurs forward
Richard Jefferson's salary, they would increase their chances of acquiring Parker.
Another scenario is the Knicks recruiting a third team to complete a deal. The Spurs, who were just swept by the
Suns in the second round, want to get more athletic and are said to be interested in restricted free agent
forward Rudy Gay.
The fact that
Manu Ginobili re-signed with the Spurs suggests that the club still believes its "big three" - Parker, Ginobili and
Tim Duncan - can make one more run at a title.
"I think that we would be crazy not to want a player like Tony in our program for a long time," Spurs
GM R.C. Buford told the
San Antonio Express-News.
Ten days ago,
Portland's
Nicolas Batum, who like Parker is from
France, did not think Parker would leave the Spurs.
"I don't see that happening," Batum told the Daily News. "Not as long as Tim and Manu are there."
Both Walsh and
Mike D'Antoni know that the Knicks need to upgrade the point guard position. (The need for such a floor leader diminishes if the club is somehow able to sign either
LeBron James or
Dwyane Wade since they dominate the ball.)
The Hornets'
Chris Paul is another attractive option and could be made available because of his contract, along with the emergence of
Darren Collison.
New Orleans GM
Jeff Bower recently said he has every intention of keeping Paul and believes Paul and Collison can play together at times.
But the Hornets, who could have another owner by next season, are another team with financial problems and may have no other choice but to deal their best player. Again, the Knicks don't have many assets to trade besides salary cap relief. A deal for Paul would probably have to include Gallinari, a young player the Knicks prefer to keep but would trade if it means adding a star like Paul or Parker.
Moreover, if the Knicks acquire either player before the start of free agency on July 1, that would make the team more attractive to free agents.
The second tier of point guards the Knicks would consider consists of free agents, including
Luke Ridnour,
Raymond Felton and
Steve Blake.