Knicks GM Scott Layden will not join the club on their six-game 11-day Western trip that began last night vs. the Suns. He’ll be by his desk at 2 Penn Plaza trying to help the Knicks for the future at Thursday’s trading deadline.
Sixers GM Billy King has confirmed he’s still interested in Latrell Sprewell, but the Knicks aren’t jumping at any Keith Van Horn deal, feeling they need more. If Sprewell does go – and chances are growing slimmer – Layden wants a first-round pick included and the Sixers don’t even have one this season. Larry Brown reportedly has Othella Harrington and Charlie Ward on his radar, so a Sixers’ deal would probably include multiple parts and teams.
According to a source, Philly is seeing if they can include 7-1 center Stanley Roberts as a throw-in piece in a package via sign-and-trade. The Sixers have until Monday – the end of the 30-day window – to sign him to a contract or he becomes a free agent.
Layden has larger sights than Van Horn, notably Memphis center Pau Gasol, but it seems a huge longshot. Every team is lining up at Memphis’ door since word got out Grizzlies GM Jerry West is at least listening to offers for Gasol. Supposedly, West likes Poland’s raw and rarely used 7-2 prospect Cezary Trybanski so much, he’s exploring a Gasol trade. Layden’s edge is he has among the best relationships with West and they talk frequently.
The Grizzlies have looked for a point guard and several teams think the Knicks’ second-rounder Milos Vujanic is the real thing. Would a package of Kurt Thomas, Vujanic and the second-round pick they got from Denver – a definite asset the Knicks are shopping – even be enough to pry away last season’s Rookie of the Year?
The entire Hawks’ roster is up for sale, including Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Glenn Robinson. However, the Hawks have restraints. “They’re willing to do everything but add to the payroll,” one Western Conference executive said.
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Knicks’ trip got off to a lousy start when the charter leaving Westchester Thursday stopped to refuel in Kansas, then was delayed on the ground three hours because of storms in Phoenix. The entire trip lasted eight hours.