Knicks trying to lure Crawford back

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The front line is loaded, with a Big Three that is begging for its own New York-inspired nickname. But Mike D'Antoni's bench lacks any kind of scoring inspiration and that's why the Knicks are heavily recruiting one of the NBA's best bench scorers, Jamal Crawford.

"I think he's really good at that role, he was Sixth Man of the Year," D'Antoni said of Crawford, who won the award in 2010 by averaging 18 points per game off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. "That's something that he's thrived in. We're lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down and talk . . . I don't think we're locked into anything, but he's shown he's been a great starter and a great sixth man and we'll just figure out what's best for our team."

Crawford is in his hometown of Seattle, mulling several offers that include a two-year, $5-million "room exception" deal from the Knicks. Two other teams, including the close-to-home Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings, can offer much more: the full midlevel exception of $5 million per season. He reportedly already has turned down a two-year, $10-million offer from the Indiana Pacers.

Crawford played for the Knicks during some rough times for the franchise from 2004-08 and friends say he has a strong desire to return just to experience a winning atmosphere in New York. But the concern is in accepting a contract far below his market value.

"That 2.5 can set the tone for free agency after this season," a person close to Crawford said last night, adding that the 31-year-old guard is "not at that point" of his career where he can take less than his market value. Last season Crawford made $10.8 million.

Crawford's agent, Andy Miller, has tried in vain to arrange a sign-and-trade with Crawford's former team, the Hawks, which holds his Bird rights, but the Knicks are not interested in giving up any of their young players, especially Toney Douglas or Landry Fields.

If Crawford opts to take the bigger money and run -- the likely choice would be the Trail Blazers, where All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge is pushing for him -- the Knicks' bench won't have a bona fide scorer to enter the game when either Carmelo Anthony or Amar'e Stoudemire go out for a rest.

"Right now, the way it is, it would be nice to have an extra, but . . . I think we'll still be able to generate enough points," D'Antoni said.

After Crawford, the Knicks likely would turn their attention to their own free agent, Shawne Williams. The versatile forward, who mastered the corner three-pointer last season, has a one-year offer for the veteran's minimum on the table but is hoping the Knicks will give him more. He has a multiyear offer from the Nets, and interest from a few other teams.

Williams last spring said his intention was to re-sign with the Knicks and said money and security were not issues.

"It doesn't have to be long term," Williams told HoopsWorld in April. "It can be one year. Whatever helps."

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