Peter Vecsey of the New York Post thinks that Denver's Nick Van Exel has had more than his share of time playing distractor, the Knicks should drop the idea of trying to bleed Raef LaFrentz from the Nuggets as well and acquire the talented guard.

Vecsey said the Knicks should have offered a package like Howard Eisley and Shandon Anderson, or Eisley, Othella Harrington and Lavor Postell, but have they now left things too late?

Vecsey reports that not only have the Boston Celtics entered into the sweepstakes, but they have also bolted to the lead by offering a package consisting of Kenny Anderson, rookie Joe Johnson and Randy Brown for Van Exel and Calbert Cheaney.  A condition would be that Van Exel agrees to forfeit the final two years, worth approximately $26.56 million, of the five remaining, worth approximately $60M total, on his contract.  This is something that Van Exel has expressed that he is willing to do is dealt to a team of his liking.

Now the opporutunity may present, will Nick put his money where his mouth is to get out of Denver?