Tyson Chandler and Mike Bibby practiced for the first time yesterday with the Knicks, but interim general manager Glen Grunwald’s work wasn’t done.
He was holed up in his Westchester office, working like a machine, chasing ex-Knick Jamal Crawford and Mavericks’ unheralded point guard J.J. Barea, according to NBA sources. However, it’s being reported that Barea is going to accept a four-year deal from the Timberwolves.
Crawford’s agent, Andy Miller, has been trying desperately for the past 48 hours to broker a three-team sign-and-trade deal between the Knicks, Hawks and another club under the salary cap to find a creative way to pay Crawford his market value, sources told The Post. The Warriors are one team Miller has tried to engage.
The Knicks initially mulled dangling starting point guard Toney Douglas, an Atlanta native, in a potential deal, but they have since reconsidered, slowing progress.
After the magic Grunwald pulled off in the Chandler heist, anything’s possible now for the GM who still has “interim” in his title but may have taken a step in having it removed.
The Knicks, looking to further bolster their backcourt, already have offered both Crawford and Barea their $2.5 million mini-exception given to clubs near the salary cap. The club lost its full $5 million midlevel exception by dipping under the cap to execute the Chandler extravaganza.
The Knicks undermined a potential Crawford trade by signing their rookies, Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrellson, yesterday, creating two more pawns who can’t be dealt.
Billy Walker, Landry Fields, center Jerome Jordan and a 2012 second-round pick are the Knicks’ only trading chips. Jordan flew in from Slovenia yesterday and is close to signing, and the Knicks prefer not to deal Fields, either.
The Knicks don’t even have the cash to throw into a Crawford trade because they gave the Wizards $3 million to take on Ronny Turiaf, according to a source. The new CBA states a team can only use a combined $3 million in a year for trades. Call it the James Dolan Rule.
“Mike [coach D’Antoni] loves Jamal and wants him here, but he’s not willing to give up his starting point guard,’’ said one person familiar with the Knicks’ thinking.
The Knicks, if they waited long enough, felt they had a better crack at Barea accepting the $2.5 million offer in this suppressed market created by the new CBA.
Barea and Crawford each have interest in New York, but rejected the Knicks’ offers. They could become desperate, however. Barea was a teammate of Chandler’s in Dallas and an unsung hero during the Finals. Crawford has suitors in the Pacers and Nets.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are also monitoring free agent small forward Shawne Williams, as they could use a 3-point shooter off the bench. Williams, a Knicks revelation last season, has been offered the $2.5 million exception but has better offers. The Knicks also are still interested in small forward Anthony Parker for that exception.
Williams had a big season from 3-point range a year ago. Knicks brass loved his toughness and his friendship with Amar’e Stoudemire helps, as they share the same agent, Happy Walters. Williams is no longer being treated as a reclamation project.
If the Knicks don’t land anyone to be their starting point guard, they still have 2012, when they can target free-agents Steve Nash, Jameer Nelson and Raymond Felton — who could all be available for the $5 million midlevel exception in a down market — but not Chris Paul.
For now, Douglas, who wore a starting white jersey yesterday, feels he can handle the promotion fine, especially with a veteran backup in Bibby on the roster.
“He’s my teammate,’’ Douglas said. “He’s been in the league 13, 14 years. We can all learn different things from different people.’’