The Knicks Fix

OK, so two blogs ago I shot this idea down....get ready for a flip-flop.

I made a few calls and checked with a few people on Wednesday in the midst of the Kobe Bryant drama and discovered that the Knicks are very much going to pursue a sign-and-trade for Seattle's Rashard Lewis. Not only that, but they are quite confident they have what it takes to make the deal happen.

Read my story in today's Newsday Download file

Isiah yesterday really put up a good argument that supported what we've been discussing on the blog recently; the idea of staying the course and not dumping any more lengthy contracts on a payroll that is set to finally get under the cap in two seasons. But the high-ranking person I spoke with after Thomas' comments told me that, despite the fact it would be at least a five-year deal, the 28-year-old Lewis was an exception to that rule.

Why? He's a young all-star caliber player, like Jermaine O'Neal. But his game is more outside-inside, as opposed to O'Neal, who would be sharing time in the post with Curry. And unlike Kevin Garnett, Lewis is much younger and would be had for far less than KG's contract.

As I said Lewis is a 3 and the Knicks, I thought, were more in need of a 4-spot player, a power forward who could defend the post and rebound. I still feel that way, but I can't deny Lewis is a high-end talent who is one of the best three-point shooters in the league. And as Gmal said in his comment, the Knicks were one of the top rebounding teams in the NBA for most of the season. David Lee, off the bench, led them with 10 a game for most of the year.

At 6-10, Lewis isn't a dominant rebounder, but more importantly he is a 20-points-per game player who is difficult to defend on the perimeter, so teams would have matchup problems stopping Lewis and Curry. And when Curry is out of the game, Lewis can move down to the post. With Marbury and a healthy Quentin Richardson, the Knicks will have plenty of outside threats to keep the heat off Curry.

As for interior defense, the Knicks will have to hope Jared Jeffries is better than he showed this past season. Plus, if Curry wants to be an all-star, he must add defense and rebounding to his list of priorities every game. He's got to get quicker and he's got to get smarter, but more than anything, he's got to get meaner on D.

So in this potential deal, who would go the other way? You might think the Sonics would want to start the conversation with Seattle native Jamal Crawford. But with Ray Allen already there, Jamal would be a very expensive sixth man for the Sonics, unless they tried playing them together in the backcourt. Channing Frye would almost certainly be in the discussion because he would replace some of Lewis' outside touch and size. Frye might actually finally blossom in Seattle because he'd have the low post to himself and he could play off of Kevin Durant, whom the Sonics are expected to pick at No. 2.

The Sonics really need a point guard, but though Nate Robinson, also a Seattle native, would draw interest from the fans, he's not a pure PG, as we know. Don't even try to suggest the Sonics would take Steve Francis' contract.

Clearly the Knicks will have to get creative and they might even have some competition. But right now we're just speculating. First the Sonics have to get Lewis to agree on a number and then they can decide what they can get in the open market.

Camp Observations after Day 1

Sean Singletary, a speedy 6-foot guard out of Virginia, stood out in the morning scrimmage as most speedy guards do in these situations. I also liked the energy D.J. Strawberry -- Darryl's son -- showed, but if he wants to make it to the NBA, he's gotta knock down some shots . . . You know that bruising power forward-type I'm so obsessed with? Keep an eye on Ryvon Covile, a chiseled 6-9, 250-pounder from Detroit who was quite active. Not the best hands, but he looked like a man among boys in the paint . . . As I wrote today, Thomas said he feels he can "take a flier" with the No. 23 pick because the team already has Randolph Morris. I noticed how he talked up Florida's Taurean Green, the point guard from the two-time national champs. He'd be a project, but in two years when Stephon Marbury's contract is up, perhaps he'd be ready to either play a backup to Mardy Collins or step into the starting role . . . Knicks assistant coach Mark Aguirre is coaching Team No. 4 here, if that means anything to you. Aguirre has also worked the drills and is getting a bird's eye view of players.

Speaking of Knicks assistants, I spotted Herb Williams chatting with Michael Jordan as they left the Milk House Gym here and after Michael stepped away (dude, lose the mustache already), I said to Herb, "Now let me guess, that conversation started with, 'Now how are you hiring Sam Vincent instead of me?'" Herb laughed and said, "That thought did cross my mind!" But Herb, one of the great people among the Knicks organization, said he was cool with everything and said his interest in a head coaching job is just how every assistant coach thinks. No calls yet from Seattle, Orlando or Indiana.

And finally, walking outside the complex during the evening session, I spotted a golf cart coming my way shuttling a few coaches to the parking lot. On the back of this cart was Larry Legend himself, facing the rear and sitting slumped and with his head practically through the roof of the cart. He had that typical Indiana farmboy deadpan expression as the cart putted him down the sidewalk. One of those priceless moments.

The Knicks have had their eye on Kobe Bryant for a while now, but they weren't expecting to make a play for him until after the 2008-09 season, when he has his opt-out. It is at that time the Knicks were setting themselves up to finally have the salary cap freedom to go after Bryant (or D-Wade or LeBron, etc.).

But things suddenly changed yesterday when Kobe said this afternoon on Stephen A. Smith's show on ESPN Radio that he wanted to be traded from the Lakers.

Immediately you think -- New York. Perfect place for him to go. Good for the NBA. Gives the Knicks instant title-contender status going into next season. He and Eddy Curry, who is most often compared to Shaq, would be a terrific 1-2 punch.

But wait....reality glasses time again.

What exactly do the Knicks have that would remotely interest the Lakers? Sure, there are only a few teams out there who can afford a Kobe Bryant, but there are even less teams who have value to trade to make a good deal for LA.

Seriously, Stephon Marbury and Channing Frye ain't getting it done.

Not when you have Miami, who would have to think real hard about the idea of sending injury-prone Dwyane Wade to LA to reunite Kobe and Shaq.

Not when you have Dallas, where the media there has already suggested the idea of dealing MVP Dirk Nowitzki for Kobe.

Not when you have Chicago, where Kobe would be the Second Coming of Jordan and the Bulls could offer Ben Gordon and perhaps Luol Deng.

Not when you have Houston, who might consider moving Tracy McGrady and give Kobe a coveted big man in Yao Ming.

Even Portland has Zach Randolph.

Even Seattle has Ray Allen and the No. 2 pick.

Sorry Knicks fans. If you want Kobe, I think you're going to still have to wait until 2008-09.

Isiah Thomas was the last man to leave the building last night after the first round of drills were completed here at the NBA pre-draft camp. Always one to shake every hand, Thomas also made it a point to give Lenny Wilkens a hug.

Wilkens is now running the Sonics and is rumored to be planning to hire himself as the next coach. When I spoke with him during the season, he certainly showed residual disgust with the Knicks for firing him midseason in 2004-05.

Yes, Rashard Lewis has opted out of his contract and will be a free agent come July 1. The only way the Knicks could get him is in a sign-and-trade with Seattle. Some feel Wilkens' role as leader of the Seattle franchise would be a roadblock, but the embrace, along with the fact that the Sonics have yet to hire a GM (San Antonio's assistant GM R.C. Buford is the leading candidate), proves there's no reason to jump the gun on anything.

And as I said in the previous blog, the Knicks don't have to even be in any talks with Seattle for Lewis. He's an excellent player, but he's a three. He doesn't quite fill a desperate need as much as he would give the Knicks another scorer and someone teams would have to defend. It could take some pressure off Curry.

But, again, the Knicks real need is at the four spot. A rebounder and defender. I'm not saying getting Rashard Lewis is a bad thing, but I'm saying it doesn't need to be a priority. Especially if it adds yet another major contract to the pile.

Scrimmages start in about a half hour. I'll check in later if anything interesting happens.

What you want is a big name, a headliner, a savior. A Kevin Garnett deal to suddenly appear like a thunderstorm to bring cool air to your humid summer. You'd take Jermaine O'Neal, but if you got him, you'd have to wonder if his balky knee is why Larry Bird would be willing to trade his franchise player to the hated Knicks.

Then you see a headline for Vince Carter. If I were Isiah, I'd make Rod Thorn throw in a time machine so you could get the Vince Carter from 2000-01. The guy who could rise up and dunk on you, draw foul-after-foul and finish plays, not to mention games. Not the guy who appears to be looking for a small-market town where he could live off his name and feel little pressure to actually produce wins and championships.

Then you see Rashard Lewis. Seattle will likely draft Kevin Durant, who plays the same position. Whom do you think wins in that battle, the sensational rookie who was taken second overall and has a capped salary or the veteran who opted out of his contract for a bigger paycheck? But then you realize Lenny Wilkens is now calling the shots there in Seattle. Yeah, the guy Isiah Thomas canned midway through the 2004-05 season.

Put on your reality glasses for a second....

The Knicks, as they are, do not necessarily need a headliner. They don't need just any piece, they need the right one. They could jump all over something major this summer just to grab your attention and to, perhaps, get a few more season ticket holders to come back. But that doesn't mean it's the right move. The Rangers learned that lesson in the early part of this millennium. The Garden should know better than that.

More than anything else - more than a shooter, as it is being suggested elsewhere - the Knicks need a bona fide power forward. They need a Udonis Haslem or a Paul Millsap or, at a lesser scale, a Mikki Moore. Don't blow the bank now if it's not necessary. Remember, Kobe, LeBrom, D-Wade, etc. are all up for contracts in a few years....

For me, right now, if I'm building my team on the broad shoulders of Eddy Curry, then I need a guy with broader shoulders to help him carry the load. Patrick Ewing needed Charles Oakley. Eddy Curry needs the same. Mr. Dirty Work. Doesn't need the ball. Can hit the jumper. Will hit opponents who venture into the paint.

Perhaps it's someone who right now is hiding on someone else's bench. Someone like Jason Maxiell, who had been relatively under the radar in Detroit until the playoffs. He can block shots, he rebounds. Dunks the spit out of the ball any chance he gets. Great hustle around the paint and great size. Doesn't cost a lot, either. His deal, which extends to 2009-10, maxes out at 2.7 million. Chump change on the Knicks payroll.

But, because he's young and inexpensive, why would Joe Dumars want to remove him from a potential championship roster and toss him to his buddy Isiah? Perhaps with McDyess and Sheed and C-Webb already clogging up the minutes in the paint, Dumars sees Channing Frye as a better fit off the bench with the drive-and-kick style the Pistons play. Or Nate Robinson as a backup point guard who can replace the aging Lindsay Hunter and learn some maturity and control from Chauncey Billups.

Anyhow.....there's my attempt to throw something on the wall and see if it sticks. Tell me what you think.

By the way, I'll be at the Orlando Pre-Draft camp this week offering thoughts and observations.

* - Thanks to a couple of online classes and another course he took after the regular season ended, Randolph Morris was able to maintain a suitable grade point average to keep the Kentucky basketball program from academic sanctions. Not to mention credits toward Morris' degree in Secondary Education.

* - A recent NBA.com interview with Bill Bradley revealed that his favorite current Knick is Jamal Crawford. Hard to believe that a player who was known for his old-school fundamental approach to the game would appreciate a freewheeling, improvisationalist such as Crawford. But Bradley says he sees control within the chaos. "I like the way he moves on the court," Bradley told NBA.com. "He is a shooter – I always like shooters. But he also seems to know how to move. He can move a little bit without the ball."

* - A little history...Howard "Geezer" Porter, the former Villanova star from the 1970s, died this weekend after being severely beaten and left in a Minneapolis alley. His pro career was hampered by injuries and he later fell into drug and alcohol abuse. More recently he turned his life around and served as a probation officer in St. Paul, Minn. Porter played for three NBA teams, including the Knicks. His time in New York was brief, however. He played 17 games during the 1974-75 season and averaged 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game as a Knick.

But it doesn't mean Porter didn't have any impact on Knicks history. He was traded on Christmas Eve 1974 to Detroit for a 1975 first-round draft pick, which was used to select Eugene Short out of Jackson State.

Short was then traded a few months later, with cash, to Seattle for Spencer Haywood.

Happy 14th Anniversary of a play that will never grow old

This has to be the worst time of year for any of the non-playoff teams. You have to sit through this purgatory and wait until you can finally make moves again and get your team ready for the coming year.

But it might be a long wait, kids. I know you all are thirsty for rumors - legit ones, I mean - but let's get real. The Kevin Garnett talk is media-driven, from what I'm told and, to be honest, there's little chance the Knicks would be a front-runner to land him if he were on the market. Pau Gasol would be the next-best fit, but the Knicks, again, don't really have anything to offer to interest the low-budget Grizzlies, who are not about to take on a major salary, at least not for a player in his 30s.

And if you're Larry Bird, would you trade your franchise player -- we're talking Jermaine O'Neal now -- to not just Isiah Thomas, but the hated Knicks?

Yes, Bird told NBA.com that the Pacers would be interested in acquiring a first-round pick to replace the one they lost to Atlanta as a result of the Al Harrington deal (clearly a worse deal than Isiah's deal for Eddy Curry). The Knicks have a pick at No. 23 and would be willing to part with it in a package for O'Neal.

But, again, why make the Knicks better at your expense? What's the best the Pacers can get from the Knicks? Just to make the salaries match, you'd have to start the bidding with Stephon Marbury and the No. 23 pick for J-O. I don't think fans in Indiana would be happy about that, though Marbury's image -- what with the Starbury line and his recent feature on Oprah --would be a dramatic improvement to what the Pacers have had there in recent years.

I've been told that, despite their close relationship, Isiah still would consider dealing Marbury, especially if it improved the team. I also feel that Marbury might be ready to get out of New York and away from the media scrutiny that has dogged him. But where would that leave the Knicks in the backcourt? Sure, they'd be stronger in the paint - though it remains to be seen if O'Neal and Curry could mesh their games - but while I have confidence in Mardy Collins, I'm not sure he's ready for a 40-minutes-a-night role. Is Steve Francis the guy you put at the point with Mardy off the bench? Possibly.

Let's just assume, as Ken Berger reported last week, that Isiah has no plans to buy out Francis and let him float down to Houston at a discount. So as far as you know, Francis is going to be a Knick next season because, as some of you correctly noted, no way Houston picks up that salary in a trade.

Marbury and O'Neal have almost identical salaries in the next two years. Marbury has a player option after next season and his deal is up after 2008-09, which saves the Pacers one year off O'Neal's deal. I removed Channing Frye from this equation for several reasons, including the fact that Indiana has Troy Murphy who is pretty much the same type of player. Frye has some post-up potential, but both are soft defenders. Murphy is a better rebounder.

But this is all just fantasy league chatter, because Bird dealing O'Neal to the Knicks would be as likely as Isiah dealing Curry to Michael Jordan and the Bobcats. You know how much Isiah loves Michael.

* * * *

*- Speaking of the Bobcats, it sounds like Sam Vincent is the choice in Charlotte. Vincent has one year as an assistant coach under Avery Johnson, so you know he comes cheap. Herb Williams interviewed for the job on Jordan's request.

*- You have to respect the self-assuredness of the Van Gundys. After Jeff decided to leave Houston before they had the chance to fire him (same as in New York), Stan decided not to take the job in Indiana. The longer Jeff stays unemployed, the more Lawrence Frank should be concerned.

The Knicks avoided the nightmare of the ping-pong ball. Portland won the NBA lottery, Seattle will pick second and the Hawks third.

But wait, you all want fluff and happy. So here you go: just think about how critical that season-ending win over Charlotte turned out to be. The Knicks (33-49) were one win better than Portland. So close, Bulls fans. But so far away.

I love the comments. You want me to "dig up rumors." That's my job, to "dig up rumors." Not discuss reality.

Right then. Rumors. Fiction. This is what you want.

If you read carefully in this blog -- this is not a news-generating function of Newsday, it is a blog, if you want news, read the news-paper edition -- you will often find nuggets sprinkled throughout. Pay more attention to what I'm saying instead of what I'm not saying, that which you so desperately want to hear.

Isiah is a great coach. Curry was worth two lottery picks. Jerome James just moved in with fitness celebrity John Basedow.

All I got is reality for you, baby. Here's what I got a week before the pre-draft camp opens in Orlando:

- Chicago will get the Knicks pick at No. 9, which should still land a quality player and perhaps even a big man that Bulls are hoping for, such as 7-2 Roy Hibbert or, if he somehow slips down the order, 6-11 Chinese phenom Yi Jianlian, whom everyone is talking about.

- My gut tells me the Knicks never make the Bulls pick at No. 23. Just a hunch, but with enough young players on the roster, and the signing of Randolph Morris, the Knicks need to add a veteran player who can compliment Eddy Curry in the front court. Yeah, I mean Jermaine O'Neal. Forget Kevin Garnett. Let it go. The Knicks don't have nearly enough to offer.

- Notice how much Steve Francis' name is coming up in stories out of Houston? They're looking for help at guard and Francis has made it no secret on the street that he'd love to go back to the Rockets. With Jeff Van Gundy gone and the Rockets wanting to get more up-tempo, Francis might get his wish. But the question is, would they take all that salary or only consider him if the Knicks agree to buy him out? If it's the latter, I don't know if the Knicks would be willing to do the buyout unless Francis agrees to a dirt-cheap settlement.

- If Herb Williams finds work elsewhere and his Knick tenure is over, Isiah Thomas should be urged to hire Patrick Ewing as an assistant coach. A perfect person for Eddy Curry to have around him. But does Isiah want someone on his bench who would be more popular than him and who the fans would call for to take over if the Knicks falter again?

Oh, and pay condolences to your Celtics friends. With the second-best chance to win the lottery, they fell to fifth.

Tanking all those games late in the season didn't help much at all, did it?

P.S. to David, who waited up for my blog update, which I edited just for him - I love it when readers talk all that smack and then are too insecure to use a real email address so I may respond. Well done, cupcake.

If you're a Knicks fan, you probably haven't been able to watch too much of the playoffs -- that Spurs-Suns series really brought back some memories of those old battles with the Heat, didn't it? -- so my guess is you don't even want to know the outcome of Tuesday's draft lottery.

In case you're curious, it'll be televised by ESPN around 8:30 p.m. Right before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

But you'll be engrossed in the season finale of "American Idol" at that time, right? (I think Blake's the winner. A white beat-boxer from Seattle with a a Maroon-5 sound...Jordin Sparks is just a pretty girl who can sing a little. Can I say that even though she's only 17?). You have Yankees-Red Sox or Mets-Braves. The "Deuce" is showing a WNBA game...Showtime has Capote.

Ever since I was a child, folks have thought they had me pegged, because of the way I am, the way I talk. And they're always wrong.

One would imagine that Spike Lee and Co. would be front row in Secaucus for this event had Isiah Thomas made the wise decision to lottery-protect this pick. There'd be a lot more hype surrounding it, especially with the college talent coming out this year. Imagine how a certain tabloid would be tripping over itself to make you believe the Knicks had a shot at Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.

But let's be honest, as much as a nightmare it would be to see the Bulls win the lottery with the Knicks' pick, the chances are so slim. There is a 1.9 percent chance it will turn up the first overall pick. The Memphis Grizzlies have the best shot at 25 percent. The Celtics have a 19.9 percent chance. Milwaukee has a 15.6 percent chance.

Still, the way things have gone for the Knicks, that 1.9 percent chance, there's a part of you that has to think history will be made. At your expense.

Not in his wildest dreams did he want to believe the Knicks would be a lottery pick two years after acquiring Eddy Curry. But that's like not having car insurance because you never expect to get rear-ended on the Long Island Expressway during rush hour.

The Atlanta Hawks, who have the fourth-best chance to win the thing at 11.9 percent, insured this pick before they offered it to Phoenix in the Joe Johnson deal. If the Hawks finish in the top 3, they keep the pick. Otherwise, the Suns can take it. So if the Hawks finish fourth, the Suns still get a great pick -- and the potential to draft a high-end talent --but at least the Hawks know they won't be giving up the potential first overall pick.

John Paxson could grandstand, but he won't be there in Secaucus, we're told. The Bulls will send a representative just to be there.

Hey, even if the Bulls fall right where the Knicks finished, ninth-worst, there's a chance they could get their hands on a quality big-man, which is what they're looking for. How would 7-2 Roy Hibbert look in black-and-red, Bulls fans?

Makes you cringe a little, doesn't it Knicks fans?

Things could be very different about the Knicks by next season, and not just with the potential player deals that Isiah Thomas has on his chess board. The coaching staff could see some changes, starting with the highly-respected Herb Williams, who is getting his name on head coach interview lists around the NBA.

Williams was in to meet with the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday. It is believed the Indiana Pacers also plan to bring him in, though the Pacers have yet to seek permission from the Knicks.

I've always appreciated Herb Williams, whether as a fan watching the Knicks in the 1990s and enjoying his readiness and enthusiasm (and I loved hearing the Garden yell "Herrrb!" whenever he came in for Patrick). I got to like him when I first met him when he was the Knicks interim coach at the end of the 2004-05 season (I was helping out on the Knicks beat then as a result of the NHL lockout).

Aside from his great stories, passion for the game and wealth of knowledge, Williams is a plain-speaking realist, which is refreshing around this franchise. He's also the last direct connection -- John Starks does work for the team, but he isn't on the coaching staff or around the players that often -- to the elite years the Knicks had in the 1990s. Before the final home game this season, I chatted with Herb during the pregame warmups. Unsolicited, he said, "This is the time of year you're supposed to look forward to."

He meant because the playoffs were a week away. He talked about how the Knicks loved going down to Charleston, S.C. for those minicamps before the first-round would open. "We would beat each other up for a few days and then go to the playoffs and beat up on other people," he said.

I asked him about accountability, and how it worked on those teams and how it was lacking on the current team. He said those teams he played on were different, because they had been through so many battles together. He said the current team would develop that over time. But he did suggest one difference in the two eras: Guys back then really had time for only one set of friends during the season -- their teammates. These days, players have their entourage, their boys; those who are good for telling you what you want to hear, which isn't always what you need to hear.

So with a support system outside of the locker room, you tend to feel less concerned with what your teammates think of you.

Just something to think about.

As has been reported elsewhere, if Larry Brown gets one of these available NBA jobs, it could also effect the Knicks because he could seek to bring Carolina pals Phil Ford and Dave Hanners with him.

But as long as Isiah Thomas has Mark Aguirre (to work with Eddy Curry and Randolph Morris and whomever else the Knicks get as a low-post player) and Brendan Suhr (to assist him in strategy and player evaluation), he'll be OK.

But Herb will be missed.

Let us put another blog on the fire and get ready for what I expect will be a busy offseason for Isiah Thomas and the Knicks, regardless of what he said at the end of the regular season.

For instance, this Sunday one of Isiah's well-known media friends, the reputable Sam Smith of our sister-paper, the Chicago Tribune, tossed a nugget in his NBA column that said Jermaine O'Neal has already asked to be traded to the Knicks:

". . . sources say O'Neal already has told the Pacers he wants to be traded to the Knicks and former Pacers coach and close friend Isiah Thomas. Would the Pacers take Stephon Marbury or maybe a package with Steve Francis, Jared Jeffries and Channing Frye and the Bulls' first-round pick, which the Knicks own in the swap?"

Hold up. Before you start tearing Channing Frye's name off your No. 7 jersey and stitching on O'Neal, let's have a moment of clear-headed thinking.

Does anyone think Larry Bird has any interest in making Isiah's dream come true? Does Bird owe anything to O'Neal to follow through on this apparent request, which has already been refuted by people with knowledge of the Pacers situation? And, of course, why would Indiana want to send their best player to an Eastern Conference rival?

With his opt-out coming next summer, O'Neal does possess some influence on the Pacers' interest in dealing him. If he wants out of Indiana, they'll get him out of Indiana. But it's up to Bird to find the best deal and, quite frankly, he has to believe he can do better than Francis, Frye and a draft pick. I also find it interesting that Smith would include Stephon Marbury's name in the mix, don't you? What reason would anyone have to think Thomas would be willing to part with Marbury? Very interesting.

As of now, it's been suggested to me that O'Neal will likely wind up in the West. If the Lakers can't pry Kevin Garnett out of Minnesota, he'd be the next-best thing to make Kobe Bryant happy, which is a priority in Los Angeles. Perhaps the Knicks will have to out-bid the Lakers, but if you consider the icy relationship Isiah has with Bird after his departure as Pacers coach, perhaps the Knicks would have to overpay to get O'Neal. Like, say, including David Lee in the deal.

Yeah, that makes me hesitate, too.

The O'Neal situation will be something to follow from now until the NBA Draft, when the Knicks will probably consider dealing their first-round pick as part of a package. As Ken Berger wrote on Sunday, signing Randolph Morris out of Kentucky makes their late first-round pick expendable, even though Isiah has done well drafting in the 20s. The franchise has enough youth at this point in time. It's not a priority to add more prospects. The team now needs to get better top-shelf talent and, most of all, fill a desperate need at starting power forward.

On a lesser scale, if Jermaine O'Neal doesn't happen -- and I'm not saying it won't, it just won't be easy -- Isiah could try to work out something with the Washington Wizards for big man Brendan Haywood, who wants out of Eddie Jordan's control and, at least, can defend the low post. Make him the backup center and buy-out Jerome James, who was supposed to be the guy who could defend on the blocks.

The Nets plan to re-sign Mikki Moore, but the Knicks could dangle some of the mid-level exception money at him to lure him across the Hudson to bring energy, intensity, defense and a decent mid-range jumper.

There is, of course, one other tantalizing option to fill the starting four-spot: Pau Gasol. From what I hear he is still getting great interest from the Chicago Bulls. Now wouldn't that be a nice payback for Isiah, to steal Gasol out from under from the Bulls on the same weekend the Bulls use the Knicks lottery pick.