NY POST
COULD the Knicks really be (finally!) virtually ze roed in on acquiring Jalen Rose? Despite long-term contention over Isiah Thomas' demand for a No. 1 pick (Denver's) from Toronto in a proposed deal involving Penny Hardaway, that's what I'm hearing from a reliable source.
It's unclear which team is willing to compromise, probably both, meaning the pick figures to be lottery-protected, maybe through as low as eight, something along those coordinates.
Oddly enough, the apparent Rose ($15.6M and $16.9M) breakthrough coincides with a turnaround in trade talk with the Blazers. Sources on both coasts reveal Portland, in the midst of a four-game win streak, abruptly reversed its position to cling to Theo Ratliff because Joel Przybilla is a rising free agent, and offered Larry Brown the defensive inside presence he's been seeking since the season began.
Adding irony to irony, New York declined Ratliff ($11.67M with two more at the same number) and Ruben Patterson ($6.35M and $6.8M) for Penny ($15.7M).
Who says money ain't a thing to Camp Cablevision?
Penny hasn't been this unpopular since Tara Banks dumped him in a shoe commercial. The demand for him not to be part of any team is reaching epic proportion.
