The Baron is coming to Broadway.
With the Knicks uncertain about the proclivity of Toney Douglas as starting point guard, they are rolling the dice Baron Davis’ back will be healthy in time to help the club’s championship push.
Davis gave word to the Knicks yesterday morning he is on board and, according to multiple NBA sources, will officially sign with the club today as contract deals were being finalized. One league source said Davis will accept a one-year deal at the Knicks’ $2.5 million exception that had been turned down previously by Jamal Crawford and Shawne Williams.
Davis will be at the Knicks’ training facility today.
Davis became a free agent Friday night after clearing amnesty waivers and the Knicks were his most aggressive pursuers — a sign the team is going all in on a championship this season with the “Broadway Bigs’’ still early in their prime.
The Knicks staff reviewed medical reports regarding Davis’ bulging disc over the weekend and are convinced he will be back this season. General manager Glen Grunwald has a lot of confidence in his medical team, led by Dr. Lisa Callahan.
In fact, a source familiar with the situation said the Knicks feel they can get Davis back playing in a month and agent Todd Ramasar’s 8-to-10-week proclamation was exaggerated. It is believed Ramasar made that public so as to scare off under-the-cap teams who could have bid for Davis before he became a free agent.
Davis only wanted to play for three clubs not in the amnesty bidding process — the Knicks, Lakers and Heat.
The Post has learned Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni spoke to Davis on the phone Saturday and the comfort level was there from both sides, cinching the deal.
“Baron loves the way Mike’s teams play,’’ said an NBA source, explaining why the decision was easy for Davis.
The Knicks still want a backup forward and have the $1.4 million veteran’s minimum to dangle. They appear out of any chance of signing James Posey, but forward Al Thornton could be an option. Thornton, however, is mending from a knee injury and won’t be ready for four weeks.
“I know [Baron] really well and I would love to have him if we have a chance to get him,’’ Carmelo Anthony said yesterday following the Knicks’ open scrimmage attended by 10,500 at the Garden. “Everyone knows what he can do when he’s healthy and focused.’’
Anthony noted Davis keyed two Cavaliers victories over the Knicks late last season.
“I was here two months last year and we played them quite a bit when I got here and he was healthy then and they beat us a couple times,’’ Anthony said. “And he was a big part of those wins. When BD is healthy, he is one of the best.’’
D’Antoni, before reports came out Davis was on his way, said the addition is a no-brainer if Davis is healthy.
“There were times he was the best point guard in league,’’ D’Antoni said. “I think a lot of depends physically, and if he wants to be here. If those are positives, it could turn into a good thing.’’
When Davis gets back in a few weeks, D’Antoni will have tough decisions to make. In the preseason opener Saturday in Newark, the backup unit of Mike Bibby and rookie Iman Shumpert outplayed the starting tandem of Douglas and Landry Fields.
Fields was 2 of 12. Douglas and Fields combined to hit just 2 of 9 treys. It is possible that by February, the starting backcourt will be Davis and Shumpert, who glittered in his Knicks debut with 16 points. Douglas and Fields would become shooting-guard reserves with Bibby backing up Davis at the point.
Asked Shumpert’s future position and role, D’Antoni said of his first-round pick, “It’s hard to tag him. He’s been really good with the ball. So far his decision-making is good. He could be a starting 1 or starting 2. He’s got a pretty high ceiling.’’
On Friday, D’Antoni went on WFAN and made his boldest remark of his Knicks tenure, saying the club has the ability to win the title now. The free-agency period has essentially seen the Knicks give up Chauncey Billups and Ronny Turiaf for Tyson Chandler, Davis and Bibby. The Miami Dream Team, meanwhile, failed to plug their hole in the middle.
“As far as who got better, who got worse, we definitely got better,’’ Anthony said. “We did a lot. In two weeks, we did a lot, a lot more than a lot of other teams did. We made a great leap.’’