http://tinyurl.com/89ez5qw Knicks officials made the requisite calls Wednesday, contacting the agents for Caron Butler, Grant Hill, Kwame Brown, Shannon Brown, Shawne Williams and Jared Jeffries, among others. But their efforts may be hampered by the franchise’s fixation on Chris Paul and the free-agent class of 2012. According to agents who spoke with the Knicks, the team is determined to sign players to one-year deals to maintain salary-cap flexibility next summer, when Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard may become free agents. It was not clear whether the Knicks might veer from that posture to acquire a top-tier free agent, like Butler. The Knicks prefer to trade for Paul, the New Orleans Hornets’ star guard, but they do not have the assets to complete a deal. They also might not have the salary-cap room to sign him next summer. If the cap remains flat, as expected, the Knicks could have as little as $13 million available. Paul will be eligible for a deal starting at $17.4 million. --

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