Nov. 21 (Bloomberg) -- The New York Knicks traded guard Jamal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors for forward Al Harrington, freeing up salary cap space to sign a free agent in 2010.

The move marked the first major trade for Knicks leader Donnie Walsh, who joined the team in April, taking Isiah Thomas's position as the team's top executive.

Walsh, who drafted Harrington while with the Indiana Pacers in 1998 and re-signed him as a free agent in 2006, said the 11- year National Basketball Association veteran is a "great fit" for the Knicks' style of play and their future.

The trade "gives us more long-term flexibility while enabling us to remain competitive this season," Walsh said in a statement announcing the acquisition. Harrington's contract expires after the 2009-2010 campaign.

That would free up additional salary cap space to help New York lure top players such as Cleveland's LeBron James, Miami's Dwyane Wade, and Toronto's Chris Bosh, each who could be a free agent after that season.