NBA Insider with Ken Berger

Unfortunately, I have to step aside again just when this Isiah trial is getting interesting. Tales of alleged racial and sexual slurs and romps with interns will have to go on without me for a while.

That is because my wife and I are expecting Baby Berger No. 2 any time now, with the offshore odds heavily favoring Sunday as the delivery date, according to a source close to Tim Donaghy.

The timing is good, considering I am able to burn the rest of my vacation time while helping out with the new tot and will be back just in time for the Knicks to open training camp in Charleston. I predict that the Artest speculation will be in a major lull by then, but the Kobe situation – as in, whether or not he shows up at Lakers camp – will bear watching.

I’ll be keeping one eye and ear on that stuff as best I can in between feedings and diaper changings; my home life is a bit more progressive than what we’ve heard about the workplace environment at the Garden thus far in this trial.

My pals Bob Glauber and Judy Battista of the Times keep sending me emails in which they pretend to just be checking in to see how life is treating me. I know they are probing for updates on the baby, and the fact that my name hasn’t been in the paper during one of the most sensational Knicks soap operas in recent memory makes them think something has happened.

Nope, nothing yet. Just waiting.

My wife recently reminded me of my preoccupation with work during times of crisis when she recalled how I was on the phone with Chad Pennington on the morning of July 23, 2004. As I was asking Chad if he wanted contract talks to continue into training camp, Mrs. Berger was doubled over in the early stages of labor. Jason Berger, now 3, was born later that day, but not before I'd send in my 393-word story about Pennington.

Three years later, Mrs. B is about to have another one and No. 10 is dealing with another difficult injury.

I remember typing away in labor and delivery, thinking (but not saying) that having a baby was nothing compared to what I went through writing the Monday Night Miracle on deadline back in 2000.

But I digress.

I hope you can keep the comments going in my absence. I’ll miss the give and take, so like Neil Best, the chances are good that I won’t be able to stay away without posting here and there and thanking you for reading and providing your insight and opinions. Without you, there is no blog. Now I gotta run, because without me, there will be no burp cloths.

P.S. Any readers out there with two younguns? Advice, advice, advice would be appreciated. I am going to need it.

This is not typically my realm, nor the type of stuff you should expect to see on the blog as basketball season draws closer. But I am here to report that the sexual harassment case against Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden has begun at U.S. District Court in Lower Manhattan.

Thankfully, there is a one-hour lunch break in the proceedings, as well as a wirelessly equipped Starbucks in the neighborbood (albeit without air conditioning) for me to give you this update.

U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch and attorneys for each side are interviewing each of 100 potential jurors individually to weed out those with obvious conflicts. Eventually – presumably by the end of the day – an eight-member jury will be chosen and opening arguments will begin.

Only a couple of interesting tidbits so far. First, I liked how blunt the judge was in dismissing a motion by one of Anucha Browne Sanders’ attorneys who was concerned about the monetary value of her settlement offer to the Garden being admissible evidence; i.e. $6 million.

“Let’s just not be naïve about it,” Lynch said. “We’re all here because it’s a lot of money.”

Also, a few interesting names you’re familiar with appeared on a witness list the judge read to potential jurors in open court. It included, in part, two Knicks players (Stephon Marbury and Malik Rose); team doctor Lisa Callahan; assistant coach Brendan Suhr; former scouting director Jeff Nix; community relations executive Karen Buchholz; public relations assistant Kathleen Decker; former media relations executive Joe Favorito; and Petra Pope, director of the Knicks City Dancers.

The possibility of a settlement exists until the first witness takes the stand. It is customary in such cases for the star witness of the plaintiff’s case to take the stand first, so that would be the plaintiff herself, Browne Sanders.

MSG chairman James Dolan, who also is a defendant, was not in court this morning but is expected once testimony begins.

Thomas strolled into the courthouse with a smile and wave to a couple of fans at about 9:10 this morning. Presumably, he’s able to check his cell phone during the lunch break to see if Mitch Kupchak or Geoff Petrie called with a trade proposal.

That’s all for now.

A few thoughts rattling around the basketball brain of yours truly:

I’m shocked this Isiah case is going to trial. If the Garden can pay Jerome James $6 million a year, why not make the same offer to Anucha Browne Sanders?

Sorry to hear about Shaq’s divorce. Must be Kobe’s fault.

Allan Houston is now “90 to 95 percent sure” he will return to the NBA this season. His agent, Bill Strickland, says Houston will hold a private workout for “several” teams on Tuesday. Will let you know if the Knicks are one of those teams, but I seriously doubt it.

Speaking of Kobe, it’s crazy how he’s being received like royalty on his Nike tour of Asia. If he thinks he’s huge in Manila, he should see what would happen in Manhattan if he ever wound up wearing a Knicks jersey.

I always read Mark Cuban’s blog. No. 1, the guy is entertaining. No. 2, he’s made a gazillion dollars with his innovations in online video and has some interesting ideas about how to use the Internet wisely and profitably – ideas the newspaper industry should listen to.

No. 3, he went to Indiana, and so did I. He made a joke the last time he was in the Garden, saying that when Isiah was there he (Cuban) was “just a freshman alcoholic.” That must’ve been true, because Cuban actually had his dates mixed up. I think he was a senior when Isiah was a freshman. Anyway, I didn’t know Cuban and I had the same major.

But I digress.

Check out www.blogmaverick.com, which is always worth reading – especially lately. Cuban is in a bit of a tinkling match with one of the producers for Bill O’Reilly’s show on Fox News. Funny stuff.

Speaking of Kobe, I guess the fawning “journalists” at his news conference in the Philippines Wednesday were too busy making goo-goo eyes to ask him if he still wants the Lakers to trade him. Or if he plans to show up at training camp in a few weeks.

Seriously, if the Knicks won’t use their mid-level exception on Anucha Browne Sanders, don’t you wish they’d give it to Charles Oakley? Just, like, for the heck of it?

I'm printing out and saving Peaceman's bold predictions for when, to whom, and for what Kobe eventually will be traded. He was so precise and sure of himself, I'm wondering if he got tipped off by Tim Donaghy.

Some of you have suggested in your comments that the Knicks should be shopping Nate Robinson hard. I agree, and I think that’s what this whole N8 transformation angle has really been about this summer. Be patient. Isiah is sitting on some very tradeable assets and will be ready to pounce if and when Kobe or Artest officially become available.

Unless, of course, he’s on the witness stand that day.

I’m back after some time off and pleased to see some activity and good discussion going on here in my absence. So rather than waste your time with pleasantries, let’s get right to it with some thoughts on the comments you posted.

I agree with David that there’s no rush for anyone to do anything with Artest at least until training camps open next month. Even then, Artest’s value won’t be as high as it will be at the trade deadline. But I think he’s overstating his opinion that Kobe “’simply won’t be traded.” I think it’s better than 60-40 that he won’t – maybe even 70-30. But don’t forget that Kobe holds all the cards. He could really throw the Lakers into chaos if he balks at showing up for camp in a few weeks. If he plays that card, all bets are off, and the Knicks are at least as well positioned as the Bulls are to make something happen. As Alan Hahn noted, Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune correctly pointed out that the Knicks will be major players in the Kobe situation as long as there is a Kobe situation.

As for the notion that acquiring Artest would overload the Knicks at a position where they are already “loaded,” I disagree. I tend to agree with Zdiddy, who points out that Artest is by far a better defensive 3 than anyone the Knicks currently have. And with Curry and Randolph not playing much D, they would be helped immensely by Artest’s defensive presence. He can defend the bigger 3s and some 4s in the post and also defend the perimeter. If you look at who the Knicks have to contend with in the East – LeBron, Pierce and KG, Carter, to name a few – Artest would draw the toughest assignment every night and hold his own.

Handcheck points out that there’s no reason the Kings can’t compete with Artest, Kevin Martin, Bibby, etc. I still think they’re trying to move Bibby, and if they do, you know Artest won’t be happy – unless he’s included in the deal. If Sac stays intact, where they stand in February will tell you everything you need to know about whether they are going to trade Ron. The most interesting thing he’s said to me this summer is that the only thing that really makes him angry is playing for a team that doesn’t believe it’s a championship contender. The Kings, as currently constructed, surely are not championship caliber. If they really struggle out of the gate, Artest will force his way out of there at the deadline – if it doesn’t happen sooner.

Since Kobe and Artest are dominating the discussion here, we should start a little contest. Give me the date you think either one will be traded, and to whom. Whoever is closest will receive the undying respect of everyone else on the blog.

While we’re at it, I’m also curious to get your thoughts on Team USA’s dominant performance in Las Vegas. There is no question they will be one of the two or three most intriguing stories next summer at the Beijing Olympics, where they will be heavily favored to bring home the gold. Tell me how you think this team compares to the ’92 Dream Team. You can take into account any categories you like, but I would propose experience, athleticism, and team chemistry as a starting point for any comparisons.

Keep up the good work. Only 28 days until the Knicks’ first practice in Charleston. I’ll leave you with one last question: Aside from the spare parts (Dickau and Jones), what player currently on the roster is least likely to be dribbling a ball in the College of Charleston gym on Oct. 2?