Knicks eye Jason Williams, haggle with Sessions
Photo credit: Robert Duyos | Miami's Jason Williams and coach Pat Riley talk during a time out against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter of Game 3 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals
The Knicks continue to negotiate with Bucks restricted free-agent guard Ramon Sessions and will take a look at veteran guard Jason Williams Tuesdayat the MSG Training Center.
Williams, 33, who last played for the Miami Heat in 2007-08 before taking last season off for personal reasons, will work out for Donnie Walsh, Mike D'Antoni and the basketball staff this morning.
The Knicks - who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday - have exclusive negotiating rights until Thursday because they had the worst record among teams that put in a waiver bid on Williams.
Walsh has been involved in talks with Sessions' representation over the weekend, but despite reports to the contrary, the sides are not close to an agreement. It is believed that Sessions' agent, Jim "Chubby" Wells, is seeking the full mid-level exception (five years and $32.3 million) and that Walsh, with no real competition on the market, is offering slightly less, mainly to keep the salary-cap hit in 2010 to a minimum. At the full mid-level, Sessions' salary would be $6.03 million in 2010-11.
There is one caveat that Walsh must consider in this pursuit: A source with knowledge of the Bucks' thinking said the cost-conscious team most likely would match any offer up to $3 million per season. Higher than that and Milwaukee could pass. A sign-and-trade has not been discussed at this point.
D'Antoni and the coaching staff are very high on Sessions, 23, an explosive and smart combo guard. They believe he would fit well in the Knicks' up-tempo spread offense and could grow along with the young nucleus of Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas.
Williams and Jamaal Tinsley are considered low-expectation options.
The team also has to resolve the contract issues for its own restricted free agents, David Lee and Nate Robinson. Neither situation has progressed.
