Isiah Thomas' willingness to part with Jamal Crawford before next week's trading deadline is another admission the players he assembled is not a good fit with Larry Brown.
A source said the Magic was one of the teams heavily interested in Crawford when he put his name into the draft out of high school. He later withdrew and attended Michigan for one year before being drafted by Cleveland and then traded to Chicago.
"[Crawford's] been on their radar," said one league official who has spoken to the Magic.
Whether the Knicks obtain Francis or Denver point guard Earl Watson by Thursday's trading deadline, it is likely Crawford will be history as a Knick. Only Eddy Curry and Channing Frye appear safe.
Hardaway is the center of virtually all talks and would be part of a three-team trade for Denver's Watson if Kenyon Martin and his bad knees are tossed in. The Knicks are very concerned about Martin's long-term contract because of his health risk. Why else would the Nuggets be so eager to trade him?
A source said Thomas is still shopping Hardaway's contract to five teams looking to get under the cap. Portland, Seattle, Orlando, Denver and Minnesota, which also has interest in Stephon Marbury, are in that group.
Meanwhile, the Blazers are eager for Hardaway's contract, and Brown wants center Theo Ratliff. But the Knicks need a younger piece in addition, such as Darius Miles.
"They're not just trading Hardaway's contract just for Ratliff," a league executive said