The New York Times is reporting that the Knicks are close to finalizing a trade that would bring Orlando guard Steve Francis to New York.
The current proposal, according to the source, would send guard Jamal Crawford, forward Maurice Taylor and possibly the swingman Trevor Ariza to Orlando. The Knicks would obtain Francis and forward Pat Garrity.
Francis and the Magic have been on the outs since the team suspended the guard for two games last month for refusing to enter a game. Francis later apologized, but since the incident several teams have inquired about his availability.
This is really a Crawford for Francis swap, and the Knicks would be getting the better end of the deal talent-wise. Whether a Stephon Marbury/Francis backcourt would work better than a Marbury/Crawford backcourt is uncertain. Marbury and Francis are two of the most talented guards in the league, though I’m not sure I’d want either guy on my squad. I prefer Francis to Marbury, but both are shot happy and it is unclear that the two could co-exist successfully in the league’s biggest, most intense market. One possibility is that this is a precursor to a second deal that would send Marbury out of town.
