Madison-ex Foster may be headed to the Knicks

Former Madison and Southwest Texas State standout Jeff Foster appears headed to New York with a new free-agent contract.

The New York Post reports that former New York team president Donnie Walsh, who still works with the team as a consultant, is . Walsh originally drafted Foster out of college in 1999.

Foster, 34, is looking for one final NBA and was thought to be headed back to Indiana — even with a smaller contract than his current $6.7 million deal with the Pacers. He showed up for early work at the Pacers’ training center last week after the lockout ended.

But Foster’s rugged rebounding, which helped the Pacers make a late run to the playoffs last season, would be an important and welcome addition for the Knicks.

Foster overcame major back surgery in 2010 to rank second in the NBA in rebounds per minute behind Dwight Howard.

The Post reports that the Knicks could outbid Indiana on a one-year deal if they are willing to offer their $5 million mid-level exception to Foster. They apparently are willing to do that, as long as Foster’s deal doesn’t eat into their 2012 space in the free-agent bonanza that should include  Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Deron Williams. 

Foster doesn’t want to leave the Pacers. But the former Madison High School mid-1990s teammate of our own Jeff McDonald might have to move in order to earn a top salary like the Knicks are offering.

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