Knicks trade Crawford, Randolph in separate deals

NEW YORK (TICKER) —The New York Knicks began to revamp their roster with a pair of trades Friday, dealing away guard Jamal Crawford and forward Zach Randolph in separate deals.

The Knicks completed a long-rumored deal by sending Crawford to the Golden State Warriors for disgruntled forward Al Harrington.

Just hours later, New York also sent Randolph and seldom-used Mardy Collins to the West Coast, acquiring guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas from the Los Angeles Clippers for the duo.

The trades strip New York of its top two scorers in Randolph (20.6 points per game) and Crawford (19.6) and allow the Knicks to clear enough salary cap space by 2010 to make a run at LeBron James, who will be the jewel of a highly coveted free-agent class that includes Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

The acquisition of Harrington, 28, reunites him with Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who is in his first season in New York and was president of the Indiana Pacers when Harrington played there.

“I drafted Al back in 1998 and I think his talents are a great fit for our style of play,” Walsh said. “This trade also gives us more long-term flexibility while enabling us to remain competitive this season. To acquire a player of Al’s caliber, we had to give up someone we all really liked in Jamal. We thank him for his contributions both on and off the court, and we wish him all the best in Golden State.”

The deal cost the Knicks their most productive backcourt player in Crawford, 28, a former first-round pick who is shooting a career-high 45.5 percent from 3-point range this season.

“We are elated to add a player of Jamal’s ability to our team,” said Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin. “We think he is an excellent fit for our style and the fact that he can play multiple positions as a combo guard is a big plus.

“Additionally, he is a player who can help us immediately due to some of our injuries and, looking down the road, would have the ability to play with any combination of players in the backcourt.”

The Clippers were equally delighted with the acquisition of Randolph, who also is averaging a career-high 12.5 rebounds through 11 games.

“He is a 27-year old highly-skilled scorer and rebounder,” Clippers general manager Mike Dunleavy said. “Getting a player like Zach cost us two highly skilled veterans in Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas, but we feel that the move will help us both now and in the future.”

“Hopefully it helps us. That’s why you do trades,” Clippers center Chris Kaman said. “You try to help the team and right now, we’re 2-10. I hope everything works out. I really liked Cut and Tim, but it is a business and you’ve got to be ready to go at any time.”

In his fifth season with New York and ninth overall in the league, the 6-5 Crawford averaged a career-high 20.6 points while playing in 80 games last season.

“I am really excited and energized about this opportunity,” Crawford said. “The Warriors have been one of the most entertaining and fun teams in the league the last few years and I think my abilities are very conducive with their style and their needs. It will be a tremendous honor to play for one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game, Don Nelson, and to be a part of a young team with a lot of emerging talent.”

Harrington, who was drafted directly out of high school by the Pacers in 1998, has played in just five games for Golden State this season, demanding a trade shortly after he was sidelined with a bad back.

The 6-9 forward is averaging 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds this season. His numbers have dwindled since he averaged 17.0 points and 6.4 rebounds with Golden State following a midseason trade in 2006-07.

“Al is a true NBA veteran who possesses multi-positional skills,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He will fit perfectly into our system and will help us win some games immediately.”

Randolph, who is in his eighth season overall and second with the Knicks, was thriving in the up-tempo style brought to New York by D’Antoni.

A former No. 1 pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2001, Randolph, 27, has career averages of 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds.

“It’s tough to see guys you’re close to go, but I can’t judge any decisions being made (on trades) because they’re all for the betterment of the team,” Knicks forward Quentin Richardson said. “I have to do my part to do that, too.”

Collins, in his third year with the Knicks, has played sparingly and is averaging 2.2 points this season.

Because of the flurry of trade activity throughout the afternoon, the Knicks were left shorthanded for Friday’s showdown with the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. Only eight players suited up - and just seven played.

“It’s tough because it set us up in a difficult situation tonight, but we have to realize this is a business and the guys are doing what they can to make this team successful,” Knicks guard Chris Duhon said.

Mobley averaged 13.7 points for the Clippers. He is shooting 34 percent from the arc - the second-lowest percentage of his 10-year career.

The well-traveled Thomas will return for his second stint with the Knicks. He played parts of two seasons for New York, averaging 15.8 points in 2003-04 and 12.0 points the following season.

The Knicks lost Friday’s game, 104-87, but hope to have their newcomers available over the next two games, as they host the Washington Wizards on Saturday and James’ Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

“We’ve got a new team coming in here (Saturday) and we’re going to get it done and get to the playoffs and the Knicks fans are going to be happy the next two years,” D’Antoni said.

In his third season with the Clippers, Thomas is averaging 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds. He also is familiar with D’Antoni, having played part of one season with Phoenix.

“Tim enjoyed a lot of success in our system a few years ago in Phoenix when he was a key part of a run to the Western Conference finals,” D’Antoni said. “I am also very familiar with Cuttino and his knowledge of the game, and his ability to spread the floor and defend.”

According to the New York Daily News, the contracts of Harrington, Thomas and Mobley all expire in two years - just in time for the Knicks to make a run at James.

Crawford’s contract runs through 2011 and Randolph has three years at approximately $48 million left on his deal.

“Cuttino and Tim are two veteran players that will help us work towards our joint goal of remaining competitive this season while also improving our long-term cap flexibility,” Walsh said. “Zach is an extremely talented player who produces numbers that few players can and we thank him, and Mardy, for their efforts as Knickerbockers.”

D’Antoni had mentioned prior to Friday morning’s shootaround in Milwaukee that the team is looking toward the future.

“It’s always going to be a possibility that one day the face of this franchise is going to change,” he said. “(Walsh’s) plan is pretty clear. … In a couple of years we’re going to be under the cap. Everything he will do will lead us to being under the cap in two years. And I’ll deal with making sure the team is competitive and we’ll try to make the playoffs this year.”