The Knicks Fix

When I first started at Newsday I met a veteran reporter on the staff who was nearing the end of a long career. He was notorious for putting his tag line on every little thing he'd submit in the paper, even stuff that came right out of a press release.

"Gotta let 'em know I'm still workin'," he'd say.

Isiah Thomas seems to be doing the same thing right now, in the calm before the summer storm. With so many big names potentially available on the trade market (Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal and Rashard Lewis, for starters), of course Thomas will say he's exploring all options. Of course he would be willing to part with the No. 23 pick in a package for a high-end player, as he did on Tuesday at the press conference to announce the preseason game with the Tel Aviv Elite team.

With the NBA Finals still going on (though it's almost over: Witness....A Sweep!), trade talk really hasn't reached a boiling point. Things will start to bubble up by next week and the week before the draft is when things will get hot.

Here's what we know -

- Kobe Bryant's situation might not be completely resolved in Los Angeles. Jerry Buss' son, Johnny, wrote a farewell to Kobe on his MySpace page, according to a LA Times report. Johnny Buss doesn't have a say in matters with his father's team, but it does provide enough reason to think the Lakers might explore offers for Bryant, if just to see what's out there. Thomas will make that call to float his scenarios, if he hasn't already. I read somewhere that Stephon Marbury believes people would love to see Marbury and Kobe in the Knicks backcourt. Sorry to break it to you Steph, but if Kobe comes to New York, you're probably going to LA. And even if not, I think most Knicks fans would love just to see Kobe in the backcourt. Doesn't matter who he's with.

- Rashard Lewis has been told to sit tight for the time being while the Sonics get their house in order. Sam Presti will step in as GM after the Spurs finish off the Cavs for their fourth NBA title. As for the coach, several possibilities have been thrown around, from PJ Carlesimo (yet another Spurs employee) to Rick Carlisle. My bet is PJ gets the job (long time coming), which is why they're waiting to make the hire. It's then up to Presti to decide what to do with Lewis, who will be a free agent on July 1. We know if the Sonics draft Kevin Durant (as expected), Lewis won't re-sign there and will force the Sonics to deal him or lose him for nothing on July 1. Isiah will have compeition for Lewis, so his offer has to be good.

- Jermaine O'Neal is another player likely headed to another team. I think there will be a domino effect, starting with Kobe Bryant. If the Lakers indeed keep Kobe (as we all expect they will), then their next move will be to make a deal for O'Neal to pacify Bryant. The Lakers have more value to trade to Indiana (Andrew Bynum, for starters) than the Knicks, so Isiah, I think, would lose this competition. Plus, as many of you noted, J-O and Curry really wouldn't work as a frontcourt, never mind the fact that Larry Bird has little interest in dealing his best player to an Eastern Conference rival.

- Kevin Garnett, however, could factor into the Lakers' situation. If Kevin McHale decides to exlore a trade, the Lakers would have to look there, first. That would open the door, slightly, for the Knicks to get O'Neal. A KG-to-NY scenario doesn't seem to have legs because the Knicks don't have much to offer Minnesota, who would want to ensure getting quality players (and not a lot of big contracts) in return.

- Rasheed Wallace's name came up after the Pistons were eliminated by the Cavs. Isiah could make this move to immediately improve his team, but it comes with a risk.

- The same goes for Ron Artest, but I've been told by enough people that Thomas isn't interested in bringing the Queensbridge rapper back home.

As far as the draft goes, we're analyzing and speculating, but no one really knows what the Knicks will do at No. 23, if they do hold onto the pick. Why? Mostly because the Knicks don't know who will be there for them at No. 23. They also don't know if they're even going to have the No. 23 pick to use in the first place.