The Knicks have been looking for a big man the past few weeks, but it's been 10 days since we've heard any news about who they might be targeting. Hamed Haddadi, Ivan Johnson and Earl Barron have all drawn mention at some point, and according to Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com, all three remain in the mix.
Haddadi's 7'2" frame and his ability in the paint intrigue Knicks brass, a source tells Zwerling, adding that the five-year NBA veteran is open to a minimum-salary deal. The Knicks have had their eyes on him for a while this summer, but he wasn't able to visit New York until mid-August because he was busy playing for his native Iran in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and winning the tournament's MVP award. Haddadi's agent, Marc Cornstein, also reps Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih, two players the Knicks signed this summer, as Zwerling points out.
The Knicks are still having talks with Barron and Johnson, who last week reportedly set a deadline for NBA teams to make an amenable offer, lest he sign with an overseas club. That deadline is now a week away, but the Knicks are in no hurry, Zwerling hears. It's possible that the team won't add any more guaranteed contracts, a source tells Zwerling. If that's the case, they may wind up going with unproven talent instead of someone who's played in the NBA before, as Haddadi, Johnson and Barron have.
Zwerling doesn't mention the last big man to be linked to the team, Cole Aldrich, so it's not clear whether the former 11th overall pick is still on the team's radar.