With the Knicks still waiting on Chris Webber, who’ll make his first recruiting visit in Detroit with Pistons GM Joe Dumars today, GM Scott Layden spoke on the phone this week with the other prominent free-agent big man, Antonio Davis. During the conversation Layden invited Davis to New York for a recruiting.

Davis, the Raptors’ All-Star center who had a major hand in wiping out the Knicks’ season in the first round, was expected to let Layden know today. Yesterday, the Webber camp attempted to contact Layden to talk about a possible visit.

Davis’ first choice is the Magic, whose officials knocked on his door Saturday night at midnight – the moment he officially became a free agent. Orlando wined and dined him Sunday. However, the Magic have failed in their efforts to dump contracts and get under the cap to sign Davis. They would have to execute a sign-and-trade with Toronto to obtain him and Orlando has promised Grant Hill he won’t be dealt.

Davis met with Raptors officials Monday and the 6-9, 230 pound block of granite then visited Chicago Tuesday.

The Knicks are only a contingency option for Davis, who averaged 15.8 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks against them in the first-round series. The Knicks, too, would have to pull off a sign-and-trade with the Raptors. A sign-and-trade for Davis would likely have to include a number of players.

The Raptors and Knicks have not begun discussions and only will if Davis asks them too. One interesting scenario would be the Knicks obtaining Davis and on-the-block Charles Oakley for Allan Houston and forward Othella Harrington. Since Davis is not seeking the maximum contract, the numbers could work out under the salary cap, though the free-agent Houston would have to approve the deal.