Report: Knicks set to sign Baron Davis

Dec 19, 2011, 5:37 GMT

By Paul Levine, dpa =

Los Angeles (dpa) - Baron Davis is Big Apple-bound and expected to sign a one-year, 2.5-million-dollar contract with the New York Knicks on Monday, according to NBA sources.

Davis, 32, cleared amnesty waivers and became an unrestricted free agent on Saturday night after the Cleveland Cavaliers released him.

With no team claiming Davis and the Knicks looking to deepen their backcourt, they decided to take a shot on the two-time All-Star point guard, who has a history of back problems throughout most of his 12-year NBA career.

'Everyone knows what he can do when he's healthy and focused,' Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony told reporters. 'When BD is healthy, he's one of the best.'

In 58 games for the LA Clippers and Cavaliers last season, Davis averaged 13.1 points and 6.7 assists per game, well below his career marks of 16.7 points and 7.3 assists.

Currently undergoing rehabilitation for a bulging disk, Davis could miss up to the first 10 weeks of the season, depending on his recovery time.

Elsewhere: The LA Lakers, addressing the need to beef up their front line, signed free agent forward/centre Troy Murphy to a reported one-year deal for the veteran's minimum salary of 1.3 million dollars.

It is unclear, however, the role Murphy will play. The Lakers on Wednesday signed Josh McRoberts, who is expected to replace Lamar Odom as the first big man off the bench after dealing the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year to Dallas last week.

'I'm not sure how much playing time he'll get here or how much the coaching staff will use him,' Lakers forward Pau Gasol said of Murphy. 'We definitely could use more depth. I think it's really important when you're trying to stay healthy throughout the year.

'If we can do that, it's going to be a huge plus for us.'

Murphy was ineffective last season, averaging just 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in a combined 35 games for New Jersey and Boston. Those numbers were well below his career averages of 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in 11 seasons with Golden State, Indiana, New Jersey and Boston.

The Indiana Pacers are set to trade guard Brandon Rush to the Golden State Warriors for forward Louis Amundson, according to media reports.

Rush averaged 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in three seasons for the Pacers, but became expandable due to the emergence of Paul George as a starter and the addition of George Hill in a trade.

Amundson has averaged 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in five seasons with Philadelphia, Phoenix and Golden State.

In Sunday's exhibition games: Oklahoma City Thunder 106, Dallas Mavericks 92

Reigning league scoring champ Kevin Durant tossed in 21 points in 23 minutes, James Hardin had 16, and the visiting Thunder cruised past the NBA champion Mavericks in the preseason opener for both clubs.

Dominique Jones and Roddy Beaubois scored 17 points apiece for Dallas, which kept starters Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd on the bench. Lamar Odom had 14 points and Vince Carter added nine in their Mavericks' debut.

Boston Celtics 76, Toronto Raptors 76 Greg Stiemsma tipped in the game-winning basket with 12 seconds left, his only points of the game, lifting the visiting Celtics over the Raptors in the preseason opener for both teams.

Ray Allen led Boston with 12 points. Andrea Bargnani topped Toronto with 16 points and nine rebounds, but missed a potential game-winning follow shot at the buzzer.

Miami Heat 118, Orlando Magic 85 LeBron James scored 19 points, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh added 14 apiece, and the Heat burned the visiting Magic in the preseason opener for both Florida teams.

JJ Reddick and Ryan Anderson netted a game-high 22 points apiece for Orlando, which lost Hedo Turkoglu to a hip contusion in the second quarter after taking a hard foul from Bosh on a drive to the basket.

All-Star centre Dwight Howard, who has demanded a trade from Orlando, collected six points and five rebounds in 30 minutes.