Mo Williams and Beno Udrih, a pair of experienced point guards used to making much more than the minimum salary, remain on the market into August, and the Grizzlies are in discussions with both, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Knicks, who can offer only the minimum, are also still in the mix for Udrih, but New York could be a longshot, since Udrih still hopes he can make more than that, Stein says (Twitter link). The Knicks have also reportedly been eyeing Williams.
Agent Mark Cornstein identified the Knicks on Friday as one of a handful of teams with interest in Udrih. The 31-year-old finished last season with the Magic after he was part of the J.J. Redick trade at the deadline. He made $7.37MM in the final season of a contract he signed for the mid-level exception back in 2008, but even if he gets more than the minimum, he almost certainly won't approach last year's salary.
Williams made $8.5MM last year with the Jazz, and he, too, is seeking more than the minimum. Still, the Mark Bartelstein client is open to taking a discount to sign with a contender, and has identified the Heat as his preferred destination if offers from other clubs don't get any better. The Heat could offer the $3.183MM taxpayer's mid-level exception. The Grizzlies have nearly all of their $5.15MM non-taxpayer's mid-level available to outbid Miami and the Knicks, and Williams met with Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien on Tuesday.