Charlie Ward has been on the trade block for years. He was once offered to Minnesota in an attempt to land Stephon Marbury. He has been offered in a package for Vin Baker. But one look at his contract always seemed to crush talks.

According to Chris Broussard of the New York Daily News, Ward's value is on the rise. As Ward nears the end of his six-year, $28 million contract, teams may be more willing to clear room beneath the salary cap. After this season, Ward, 31, will have two years and $12 million left on his deal.

Dealing Ward could hinge on what the Knicks do in the upcoming draft. Though Broussard says the Knicks are still salivating over Yao Ming, drafting a point guard could be Plan B. The Knicks would not hesitate to draft Jason Williams, but adding another point guard without getting rid of one or two of their current ones could be a problem.