Two things about this picture of Josh Smith...a) dude's head is way too close to the rim, and b) look at how empty the arena is...

One more Superbowl note: Antwaan Randle El's quarterback rating was 135.7 points higher than Super Bowl XL-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's -- 158.3-22.6

Upset special: Atlanta SF Joe Johnson hit a running layup with 7.5 seconds left to help the Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 99-98 last night. "Those are the moments I grew up dreaming about when I was playing in my front yard," Johnson said. The Hawks kept the Pistons from becoming the first NBA team with 40 wins. Detroit, which lost at Indiana on Saturday night, has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Trade Rumour: Clippers send PF Chris Wilcox to the T-Wolves for PF/C Eddie Griffin

Larry Brown has said some funny things lately…here are some examples:

After a reporter told Brown that Marbury didn't understand why the Knicks coach said that wins and losses do not matter at this point. "He only went to Georgia Tech for a year," Brown said of Marbury, "and that's an engineering school."

Brown called Trevor Ariza "delusional" after it was relayed to Brown that Ariza didn't understand why his minutes had been cut. "If he doesn't (get it), it's because UCLA was not a good academic institution.”

If it weren’t for the fact that Flip Saunders has the Pistons at 39-8 with the best record in the league, Byron Scott would be a shoe in for Coach of the Year. Come on…did anyone think that the Hornets would be over .500 and 15-8 at home? In a division featuring two of the league's best teams - San Antonio and Dallas???

Sam I Am Cassell hit 2 consecutive 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes as the Clippers beat the 85-82 last night for their fourth straight victory. Elton Brand scored 25 points and had 12 boards as the Clippers improved to 4-1 on their 6 game road trip that ends Wednesday night at Detroit. They have won nine of their last 10. "If we want to contend with the upper-echelon teams, then we have to play well tomorrow and expect to win," said Brand, who also had four of his five blocked shots in the fourth quarter. "They're going to be revved up at home, so we got to bring it." The Knicks got within 83-82 and had the ball after a Clippers miss, but Rose couldn't get the ball in and was called for a 5-second violation. Rose was asked if he was counting to five in his head. "Yes, but he was counting also," Rose said. "The referee, I heard him say, 'One, one thousand', but I think he forgot the other four. Funniest play of the game was when Cassell got a technical when he jumped off the bench to scream at teammate Chris Wilcox after Wilcox was beaten by Channing Frye for an offensive rebound and basket. Referee Kevin Fehr apparently thought Cassell was yelling at Tom Washington, the official under the basket, and called the technical. Washington calmed down the irate Cassell by telling Fehr that he wasn't the one being yelled at and had the technical removed….

1) From the AP, MJ on Kobe’s 81 points:

Jordan speaks out - MJ on Bryant's 81-point game: I would've fouled out

When it comes to scoring points, Michael Jordan is an expert. So he couldn't help but delight in Kobe Bryant putting up 81 and a New York high schooler going wild for 113. Still, Jordan insisted things would have been a bit different if he'd been guarding Bryant. "If I was on the other side, there's no way I would have been in at the end of that game without six fouls," Jordan said Tuesday. "I don't know if I could have given up 81 points and not fouled out of the game." Bryant's total in a come-from-behind victory over Toronto last month was the second-highest in NBA history. Epiphanny Prince set a national girls' record last week in a game that was a rout from the start. Some complained her performance in such a one-sided contest was an example of poor sportsmanship. "I can't fault the young lady for scoring 113 points when she goes out each and every minute to play the game hard," Jordan said. "If you're going to fault anybody, fault the coach for not taking her out of the game." The former Chicago Bulls star was in town to announce the players for his high school showcase, the Jordan All-American Classic, set for April 22 at Madison Square Garden. Jordan was so impressed by Prince -- one of the top prep players in the nation -- he's contemplating adding a girls' event next year. "I think that she's going to innovate this game," he said. "I think we should give women an opportunity to be recognized." Jordan, whose NBA career-high was 69, couldn't remember a specific time when people got on him about scoring too much. But he knows there were probably many occasions like that. "I imagine you guys were mad at me a lot in New York," Jordan joked, in a lobby adjacent to the Garden. "People got mad at me for playing hard every minute I was on the basketball court and it so happened that I scored a lot of points on their team." Bryant has often said the he fashions his game after the 10-time NBA scoring leader. Jordan said he can see some similarities. "You see him playing with any of the elite guys in the league ... he's going to guard them defensively and he will beg for them to guard him on the other end. That's my approach. I would do the same thing." He stopped himself before declaring the Los Angeles Lakers star the top player in the league, but came close. "If I had to pick the best player in the game, he certainly is up there right now," Jordan said. "It seems as though he's got the edge over anybody in that position, if not in the league right now." Back in the city where he was born, Jordan said he wouldn't give an opinion on why the Knicks are struggling this season because "someone would take my opinion and use it as the Bible." But then he gave one anyway. "Everybody goes through up and down times in the season," Jordan said. "They haven't been able to find the right mix." Jordan would like to see the NBA tinker with its new rule on when players can be drafted. Now, they have to wait one year after high school -- he wants it to be two, so they get past their teens. "I think from an educational and maturity standpoint it should have been at least 20," he said. "That way they get at least two years of college. Colleges get the chance to teach and educate them about the game of basketball and life and it trickles down." "There's no way that an 18-year-old kid is going to be mature enough to handle some of the business things that they have to deal with on a professional level," he said. "Sure you have your obvious examples of a LeBron (James) and Carmelo (Anthony). But for every one of those, you can think of four or five who missed the boat and made the wrong decision and now they can't find their way," he said.

2) Kelly Dwyer of SI.com thinks he can fix the Knicks:

If it's broke, fix it - Dysfunctional Knicks in need of sweeping changes

No one will ever confuse Dave Checketts with a prophet, but say this for the former Knicks president: he certainly saw this coming. When Checketts agreed to step down from his post in the Knicks' front office in 2001, he walked away from a team that had just finished a run of 14 straight playoff appearances, nine of which included advancing beyond the first round. But in Checketts' mind, the writing was on the wall. On his way out, he reportedly told owner James Dolan that New York's first-round loss to the Raptors in the spring of '01 was a sign that Dolan needed to "blow the place up," that the Knicks had "gone as far as they can" with this mix and it was time to regroup and rebuild. Boy, was that an understatement. Five years have passed since that advice was offered, five years of bad decisions, of throwing bad money after bad. The result: The Knicks are rotting from the inside out. Coaches and players come and go and Dolan's Cablevision empire just keeps footing the increasingly massive bill. The solution? A wholesale housecleaning that starts at the top, exactly where SI.com begins in our plan for rebuilding the Knicks.

Fire Isiah Thomas - Foresight isn't a prerequisite to being an NBA general manager, but it damn well should be. Thomas has ruined the Knicks far worse than his predecessor, Scott Layden, ever could have. Have any of his deals panned out? Thomas' acquisition of Stephon Marbury gave the Knicks a pulse, but it was like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole. In addition, Thomas has voluntarily taken on the exorbitant contracts of Penny Hardaway, Maurice Taylor, Jamal Crawford, Jerome James and Jalen Rose, the latter of whom will cost Dolan $34 million next year when you factor in the luxury tax. He's also created a toxic atmosphere in the front office that became compounded by the sexual harassment suit filed by former vice president Anucha Browne Sanders. Dolan's millions are wasted on Thomas; they should go to executives the likes of Sacramento's Geoff Petrie, Phoenix's Bryan Colangelo or San Antonio's R.C. Buford, men who already know how to build a team on a budget. Give them access to Dolan's money bin and see what comes of it.

Back Larry Brown 100 percent - Did anyone think the Knicks would be contenders this season? Didn't think so. Brown is the only bright spot the Knicks have right now, and those who have watched him over the course of the season can tell his confidence is waning. Every day is a battle for Brown, either with his players or with Thomas, who hasn't exactly surrounded the Hall of Fame coach with Brown's type of players. Instead of publicly supporting Thomas, Dolan should make it perfectly clear that the buck stops with Brown. Until then the Knicks will continue to operate with the belief that they can run over Brown the same way they did Don Chaney and Lenny Wilkens before himBuild with Marbury A No. 1 option Marbury is not, but he's a pretty darn good 1A. Let's not forget that before Marbury became a vagabond who passed through New Jersey and Phoenix he was part of a stellar tandem with Kevin Garnett in Minnesota, arguably the best duo in the league. His star may have fallen since, but let's face it, New York doesn't have much of a choice. With three years and $60 million left on his contract, Marbury isn't going anywhere. Make him happy: take the point guard responsibilities away from him and make him a dulled version of Allen Iverson. Teammates can't complain that he doesn't pass if no one expects him to.

Have patience, repeat, patience - Handing Thomas authority over transactions is like handing the remote control to someone with ADD: he just can't stop changing the channel. Tim Thomas, Antonio Davis, Shandon Anderson and Nazr Mohammed have all collected checks with the Knicks logo on top; all have been shipped out of town. New York's $125 million payroll is by far the highest in the league. Adding to it isn't going to solve anything. The Knicks need flexibility, and that isn't going to come from dealing the expiring contract of Antonio Davis for Rose's mega millions. Hardaway may be the next chip to fall: his $15.8 million comes off the books next season, making him a valuable commodity to teams like Portland and Orlando, who are looking to slash salary. Our advice? Wait it out. Let Hardaway walk at the end of the season. Wait out the contracts of Jalen Rose, Taylor, Malik Rose and Allan Houston, all of which will come off the cap by the '07-08 season. Will the team struggle? Of course, but mediocrity is inevitable. Live with the growing pains of Channing Frye, Trevor Ariza and David Lee. This way by the time the Knicks are in position to pursue free agents they will have developed a core of young players to build around. Fans come back when they sense a winner.

QUICK HITS...Am I the only one that finds the Olympic selection process utterly ridiculous? How does a decision by some players to turn down an offer to play in the Olympics become tantamount to treason? NBA players aren't fleeing to Canada to avoid the army; they are making choices that as middle-aged men -- in NBA terms -- they don't want to make the three-year commitment that comes with playing in the Olympics. Ray Allen couldn't care less about the Olympics -- he has his gold medal from '00. Tim Duncan? I think his "FIBA sucks" comment says it all. We're not in Lake Placid anymore where a gold medal was worth its weight in political capital. Serbia isn't going to attack Virginia because their basketball team can beat ours. Get over it. Speaking of the Olympics, one name that deserves mention as a candidate is Heat forward Antoine Walker. Ball movement will be critical for the American team this time around and Walker, a point forward, is an excellent offensive facilitator. As USA chairman Jerry Colangelo has said repeatedly, it's not about the best players, but the best fits.

3) Kelly Dwyer of SI.com thinks the Knicks are a mess:

No way out - Knicks backed into corner with nowhere to go

Though it may not be as frustrating as rooting for a 14-32 team, it must be pretty damn frustrating for Knicks fans to stomach the words of renewal that accompany each new trade or deal this wayward franchise makes. The smiles seem genuine, the motivations of the new players hopeful, but, truth be told, this Knickerbockers franchise has gone out of its way to prove to a loyal fan base and curious onlookers alike that it has no interest in being fixed. The players, coach Larry Brown, team president Isiah Thomas and his boss, owner James Dolan, all have demonstrated zero interest in changing their ways for you or anybody. Rather, they seem far more interested in adding to that bloated payroll and trying their damnedest to stay on the back pages of the tabloids. Outside criticism just steels the resolve of a group that refuses to mend. Why else would the Knicks gleefully and persistently fly in the face of 59 years of accrued NBA basketball knowledge, especially when the moves have done little to end more than 30 years of championship-less frustration? Why else would this club continue to reward the over-heralded and ultra-available -- as the bank accounts of Marvin Webster, Pat Cummings, Kiki Vandeweghe, Larry Johnson, Glen Rice and Quentin Richardson will attest. Give this team a little credit, though; at least it hasn't tried to sell this miserable season as part of "rebuilding." Yes, rebuilding teams often wind up on the other end of blowout losses, like these Knicks, on their way to a projected 25 wins, but that's just about the only thing these Knicks have in common with rebuilding franchises. Beyond that, New York has the league's highest payroll this year, by about $29 million (or, nearly, the Charlotte Bobcats' entire payroll), and they'll nearly lap the competition again in 2006-07. New York's 2006 lottery pick will be headed to the Chicago Bulls, who will also have the option to swap theirs with New York's in '07. The Knicks also owe a first-rounder to the Phoenix Suns in '08, '09 or '10, and have just three second-round picks to use for the rest of the decade. That's hardly the type of flexibility a team requires for an overhaul. Thomas, whose best work has come in the draft (akin to Steve Kerr's best work coming from behind the 3-point line, as opposed to, say, alley-oop dunks), has secured two lower-rung first-round picks in the upcoming draft (San Antonio and Denver's), but it cost him $23 million in '06-07 salaries, a figure that doubles when you add in the luxury tax. But why wait for the draft to change the team's prospects when there's always another deal to be made at Madison Square Garden. Of all of the traits Thomas can be criticized for, perhaps his most damaging to the team is his stubborn unwillingness to let contracts expire. Just a week after sacrificing Antonio Davis' expiring deal for Jalen Rose's longer deal and Denver's steadily-decreasing draft pick, Zeke is supposedly in the process of sending Penny Hardaway's expiring contract to Portland for the services of shot-blocking center Theo Ratliff, who will be making nearly $12 million when he is 35. Yes, a lineup including Channing Frye, Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury is years better then Isiah's predecessor's version of Clarence Weatherspoon, Kurt Thomas and Howard Eisley -- but Isiah could have rebuilt this team from scratch several times over in the two-plus years since taking over for Scott Layden. Knicks diehards argue long and hard about how the team wouldn't be anywhere near cap relief next season, so it makes sense to trade for talent and "assets" while the payroll stays in the nine-figure range. Huh? Layden's guys are gone, their contracts erased, and yet Thomas continues to add and add to the mess -- while those rookie contracts are going to need extending sooner than you think. Curry-Frye-Jamal Crawford may seem like a nice talent base to add to, but with few draft picks and no cap space, how will Thomas build a winner? He's already proven himself incapable of working the mid-level exception (see James, Jerome), and there's no way he's turning these huge deals into an All-Star. Danny Ainge would no sooner trade Paul Pierce to Thomas than he would sign a free agent sans the requisite CAT scan. And if Thomas thinks that Kevin McHale is going to send the nearly-30, beat-to-hell Kevin Garnett out to the Garden, then I have some Ruben Patterson I'd like to sell Thomas. So work yourself silly, Knicks fans. Call the radio jockfests or work the RealGM.com trade checker until your knuckles are blue and orange -- it hardly matters. The Knicks are more than happy in their role as the world's most famous 14-win team because they are sure as hell happy to bring it to you.

4) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com with his 10 things column:

10 things we learned this week

Count MVP candidate Elton Brand as the emerging superstar, but that's not to minimize the transformation that has come with the new backcourt of Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley.

1. Item: The Clippers entered this week with a 28-17 record that puts them alone in second place in the Pacific Division, 1½ games behind the Phoenix Suns. What this really means: There are no longer any questions about whether or not the Clippers are serious contenders to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The only real question is how far they can climb and if their limited depth can sustain any more injuries. The good news is it seems the foot injury that has kept high-scoring small forward Corey Maggette out since the first week of December will not require surgery and he should be back early in March. In other words, they're better off in the big picture having not made the trade for mercurial Ron Artest, and waiting on Maggette. Artest, despite his enormous talent, could have seriously damaged the great chemistry coach Mike Dunleavy has established with the team. Instead, they've got it going now, young Shaun Livingston has a good group to mesh with and for the first time in far too many years, the Clippers have reason to be optimistic for now and the future.

2. Item: The Antonio and Kendra Davis saga took on a new twist this past week for both the veteran post player and his wife for different reasons.

What this really means: Davis was traded from the New York Knicks to the Toronto Raptors for Jalen Rose and other considerations. The irony is that Davis played for the Raptors from 1999-2003 and was traded to Chicago for Rose. The sliding Knicks are laden with young big men as opposed to the Raptors, who were in dire need of help inside for youngsters Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva. And no doubt Knicks coach Larry Brown is more than willing to give Rose a shot at displaying his playmaking abilities with (and instead of) Stephon Marbury. Besides, both players are in the final year of their huge contracts, so it benefits both clubs. Meanwhile, Kendra, for whom Antonio was suspended five games after he went into the stands to settle down an argument in the stands at the United Center with a Bulls fan, has been charged with battery for another incident. She allegedly threw coffee at another woman in a road rage incident and will soon have her day in court. Maybe we know the real reason why Antonio has been traded so often the past half dozen years or so.

3. Item: Give the Sacramento Kings credit for bouncing back from the nightmare of Friday night's 0-for-20 quarter at Utah, then crushing the Jazz Sunday back in Sacramento. Nonetheless, it proves just how schizophrenic this team is — a dangerous mix in which a mercurial man like Ron Artest just landed. What this really means: It means a lot of things that we can't know after just five games, but what we do know is Artest brings a defensive toughness that this team hasn't had before. It's why the trade was made in the first place. Where Peja Stojakovic was like a sprinter — everything had to be just right, including where and when he got the ball — Artest is just the opposite. He played with a hip-pointer Sunday, had just nine points but was crucial in the mentality that held the Jazz to 78 points Sunday. Who knows where and when Artest will have his next meltdown and how it will affect the always fragile Kings chemistry. There is a sense of inevitability there, but few coaches have shown the flexibility to roll with the punches better than Rick Adelman, so the infrastructure is in place to handle it. More importantly, the Kings had grown uncomfortable with Stojakovic's erratic play and his impending free agency. There never will be anything ideal about Artest, but as the Kings made their way through the weekend, the reason why they got him was never more apparent. Hanging four games out of the playoffs with 35 games to play and five teams to pass — at least maybe there is a glimmer of hope.

4. Item: Rumors continue to fly around Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis, despite at least coming to some semblance of accord after his suspension for refusing to go into a game in Seattle on Jan. 11. What this really means: Considering he makes $13.7 million this season and is still owed $48.5 million over the next three seasons — not to mention his addiction to dribbling the basketball — it's becoming more and more difficult to gauge his worth. Instead of maturing into his prime as an All-Star talent as he approaches his 29th birthday, Francis has instead devalued his way out of All-Star status. He blew his chance to prove his point guard skills in Houston with Yao Ming and a point guard coach in Jeff Van Gundy. Now he's proving that he's still a 1½-guard. He's not alone. Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury are the same way. Perhaps all of them should watch film on Chauncey Billups to see how he's grown into an All-Star point guard. Regardless, it appears the Denver Nuggets have set their focus on Francis to alter their erratic guard play and be a complement to Carmelo Anthony. At least that's one of the teams the Magic have spoken to about moving him. Regardless, come Feb. 23, it would be surprising to see Francis wearing a Magic uniform.

5. Item: Other than the non-stop chatter of more moves surrounding the Knicks, no team has a louder trade buzz going on than the Nuggets. What this really means: Despite injuries across the front line taking out Nene, Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin for all or part of the season thus far, the Nuggets are still hanging atop the pathetic Northwest Division instead of running away with it. Consequently, with all eyes on lame duck president Kiki Vandeweghe, a trade seems inevitable. They will not trade Anthony or Camby, but anybody else is fair game. Although it would hurt them more initially to trade Martin because he's at least playing most of the time with his recovering knee (off-season microfracture surgery), Nene is out for the season with his debilitating knee injury on opening night. Third point guard Earl Watson is also likely to hit the road, so this could be a multi-team deal. But it is clear they want a star quality shooting guard out of this deal and a blue collar power forward. Wouldn't Francis and Reggie Evans fit nicely?

6. Item: Last Friday, Phoenix Suns star post player Amare Stoudemire jogged for the first time since the October 11 microfracture surgery he had performed on his left knee. What this really means: Not only is Stoudemire making progress, but teammate Brian Grant is also bouncing back from knee surgery — beginning to jog earlier last week. With Steve Nash having another MVP-caliber season, Shawn Marion still playing at an All-Star caliber level and Boris Diaw showing he is a top candidate for the most improved player award, the Suns have managed to fend off the Clippers for now. And yet, filling out the starting lineup with Raja Bell and Kurt Thomas isn't enough to make them serious contenders in the West.
If they can make it through the month atop the Pacific Division through February and get Stoudemire — and Grant to a much lesser extent — they move to an entirely different level as a team. The key will be for all of them to keep their eye on the bigger picture and avoid bringing Stoudemire back too soon. Should he return the first of March, he'll have plenty of time to get into game shape, regain his confidence and be ready for the playoffs.

7. Item: As if the Minnesota Timberwolves aren't struggling enough, guard Troy Hudson has left the team as the right ankle he had surgically repaired in 2004 is causing him major problems again. What this really means: With the exception of superstar Kevin Garnett, the franchise appears to be lost in one of those 10,000 lakes. Although they came up with a big win at Phoenix Monday night, the limitations on this roster are obvious. Rashad McCants was a terrible pick in the first round, if only because his selfish attitude has always been a problem and now they've added an older version of McCants in Ricky Davis from the Wally Szczerbiak deal. The good news is there is no coach in the NBA who has had to fight harder to gain credibility than first-year coach Dwane Casey, and he knows this game. The problem is general manager Kevin McHale has shown little or no ability to put a good mix together other than the 2004 run to the conference finals. In other words, that would seem to be the aberration rather than the rule. So ownership needs to come to grips with the fact that just because McHale was a great player and Minnesota icon, that doesn't make him worthy of having carte blanche running the Timberwolves.

8. Item: The Atlanta Hawks saw their three-game winning streak end to the Washington Wizards Saturday night, nonetheless, they enter this week at 14-32, having already exceeded last season's win total of 13 games. What this really means: The Hawks have been so awful and so young, it's been difficult to measure exactly where coach Mike Woodson is taking this team. But considering his background as a player at Indiana and in the NBA, plus being on Larry Brown's staff, it would be natural to have high expectations. The acquisition of Joe Johnson was a gamble because they gave up two first round draft choices. On the other hand, they're so young anyway that this team shouldn't need any more youngsters. The problem is they took Marvin Williams with the second pick of the draft. He may end up being an exceptional forward, but they drafted into their strength where they already have Al Harrington, Josh Smith, Johnson and even Josh Childress could play in a pinch. What they needed to do was draft point guard Chris Paul, and go about re-signing Harrington. Instead, all the talk now is about trading Harrington — and getting point guard help. And there's the rub ... if they would have taken care of business, they wouldn't be facing transition again. The biggest problem they've had has been a revolving door of players — and they're betting on Williams. Too bad — the door is about to spin again.

9. Item: The Dallas Mavericks entered the week tied with San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference, thanks to an 11-game winning streak. What this really means: This team is serious with Avery Johnson as coach, and the latest special move by A.J. was putting trimmed down shot-blocker/rebounder DeSagana Diop in the starting lineup and bringing Erick Dampier off the bench. In fact, the past 10 wins have come since that move was made. What we know for sure is the Mavs are loaded with talent and we're not the only ones who know it. The Spurs do too. They also know how much younger the Mavs are. What we will find out down the stretch is whether Dirk Nowitzki has reached the level of superstardom to lead this team. Sure, Josh Howard is proving to be an exceptional all-around small forward, but who will run the team down the stretch? Is Jason Terry really a point guard, or is young Devin Harris ready to run in the backcourt with Terry. They're one of the top four teams in the NBA today ... arguably top three. They've got the best depth and athleticism, but what we won't know the truth about the real quality of their roster until May.

10. Item: Now that the Houston Rockets have both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming healthy and playing four of five games together for the first time since the beginning of the season, they're finally making a move toward the playoffs. What this really means: Under normal circumstances, this would be nearly impossible. But 5½ games with 34 to go may not be insurmountable for this team. For so long people kept calling them the big disappointment of the season and wondering what's wrong? Well, consider these numbers. The Rockets are 13-6 when both of them play, making them 6-20 without their two All-Stars. When a team has two All-Stars and they don't have both of them for 29 of their first 43 games, then the answer to the question is easy. Even more specifically, they are 0-13 without McGrady this season and 6-15 without Yao. They have seven teams to leapfrog and a long way to go before they'll even be sniffing playoff territory, but that's not to say they can't do it. What remains to be seen is how long McGrady can stay healthy. With chronic back spasms and knee tendonitis, he is rapidly becoming old at 26. But it will one of the great sub-plots of the season's second half should the two of them stay healthy and make a run at the playoffs down the stretch.

5) Marc Berman of the New York Daily News reports that the Knicks Rookies are on the trading block:

NATE, LEE ON BLOCK AFTER ALL

February 8, 2006 -- Change the nickname from Nate "The Great" to Nate "Trade Bait." Knicks President Isiah Thomas is desperate to shake things up by the Feb. 23 trading deadline — preferably by adding a point guard, with Denver's Earl Watson his top target. Thomas' edict less than two months ago that he won't trade the young kids is history. A league source said two of the Knicks' three rookie first-rounders — Nate Robinson and David Lee — could be included in deals. Small forward Trevor Ariza could be included, too. In December, Thomas said of the kids, "I wouldn't part with any of them. We haven't had these kind of young players in a long time. Now that we got 'em, might as well keep them." Center Eddy Curry and rookie power forward Channing Frye are the untouchables. "I know he's been trying," coach Larry Brown said. The league source said Thomas would not have drafted Robinson at 21 had he known Brown would end up his coach. Brown doesn't believe there's an in-house point guard to develop. He said yesterday he doesn't project Robinson as a PG down the road, though he played at times there last night. Brown also feels Jamal Crawford isn't a floor general. The Knicks plan to make a run at free-agent point guard Mike James this summer with the mid-level exception. Bobby Jackson is also a free agent. Thomas and Nugget GM Kiki Vandeweghe continue to talk about a Watson deal, though a league official believes two other teams are stronger candidates. "I don't see a deal with the Knicks there straight up," the official said. The Nuggets are wary of the contracts and production of Crawford or Quentin Richardson because of luxury-tax implications. They would like a larger package as they shop Kenyon Martin's big contract. The Post's Peter Vecsey reported Sunday about a 3-to-4 team deal involving Watson to the Knicks and Steve Francis to Denver. But it's unlikely Orlando would be interested in Crawford.