NBA Insider with Ken Berger

I’m not sure what compelled me to do this, but I decided that tonight would be a good time to bring Isiah Thomas back to Feb. 6, 2007.

The trade deadline is still six weeks away, but it’s never too early to start asking the questions.
A few weeks before last season’s deadline, Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com stopped Thomas in his tracks during one of his pregame media sessions with the following question: “Who on the Knicks is untouchable?”

Thomas blew off the question with a non-answer: “Everybody.”

“Kelvin Cato,” Sheridan shot back.

“He’s untouchable,” Thomas said. “In my mind, they’re all untouchable right now. What do you expect me to say?”

So last night, before the Knicks attempted to win their second game in a row for the first time all season, I asked Thomas to characterize his level of activity in exploring what other teams are shopping.

“It’s safe to say we have our ear to the ground and we’re pretty much aware of players that are available and player that are not available,” Thomas said.

When I asked him if it’s safe to say that there are players available who interest him, Thomas said, “I have no interest in anyone but my team.”

And then I couldn’t help myself, reminding Thomas of his absurd “untouchable” comment last February and posing the question again.

A free week as a guest blogger to anyone who can guess what he said.

Cue Jeopardy music ...

“They’re all untouchable,” Thomas replied.

Which ain’t true, of course.

If there is one NBA team the Knicks should be engaging in frequent discussions with, it is the Philadelphia 76ers. New president Ed Stefanski already has made one deal and he’ll be itching to do more between now and the deadline as he makes his own imprint on a roster that will afford him the most cap room in the league next summer.

The prime candidates to be dealt are Andre Miller, Sam Dalembert, and Rodney Carney. Miller has been on the Cavs’ radar screen, and as a mediocre defender with $10 million coming to him next season, Miller should only be a consideration if the Knicks somehow can put together some semblance of a run at the eighth playoff spot by mid-February. Fat chance; they’re already eight back in the loss column, so Miller isn’t the answer.

Dalembert is intriguing from the standpoint that Stefanski is looking to clear cap space, and his defense and shot blocking would be the ideal complement to either Zach Randolph or Eddy Curry. Carney is a role player, and the Knicks already have too many of those.

I’m not sure if the Knicks will do anything by the deadline. They’re already too far out of the race to think a deadline deal can make a difference, so they’re better off standing pat and seeing what kind of lottery pick they wind up with.

Maybe that pick will get them someone who really is untouchable.