New York Post - While Isiah Thomas continues to shop Penny Hardaway's expiring contract up till the Feb. 23 trade deadline, the Knicks' president continues to protect rookie Channing Frye.

A league source who has spoken to Thomas told The Post the Knicks rejected the Lakers' overtures for Frye, even though they were willing to make 6-10 Queens product Lamar Odom available in a larger package.

Odom, 26, is averaging 13.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, but the Knicks have fears of him playing in his hometown New York, much the same way they feared Ron Artest.

The estranged Hardaway joined the sinking Knicks at Rice University for practice yesterday after a seven-week hiatus. Hardaway has rehabbed his arthritic knees in Houston and is not expected back this season. However, trade partners don't care about Hardaway's health, just his contract.

A league source said Thomas has four potential teams interested in Hardaway's expiring $14.8 million expiring pact and subsequently creating more cap space this summer. The four teams are believed to be Seattle, Orlando, Portland and Denver.

Using Hardaway as a pawn, Thomas is hopeful of adding a young quality veteran such as Odom to the roster, though he knows he'll have to take on a significant amount of payroll in doing so, just as he did when he dealt Antonio Davis' expiring pact nine days ago for Jalen Rose.

Like Denver, the Knicks also have looked to acquire from Steve Francis from Orlando. Seattle's Reggie Evans — a great rebounder whom Larry Brown loves and would take the load off Curry — and Ronald Murray have been discussed. If Hardaway goes to Denver in a Earl Watson deal, the Knicks would probably also have to take on Kenyon Martin, a health risk the Knicks don't necessarily want. Theo Ratliff, Ruben Patterson and Darius Miles are names that have come up in Portland.

Knicks were probably going to be raped by LA in that possible trade. Not unless we're trading Curry and Marbury and Channing for Kobe Bryant would I do that trade.

Key is larger package.

And Odom is "Oh-Dumb" kinda of player we don't need more of.

Raise the collective IQ, don't lower it.

Isiah might of got us younger and more athletic, but has dumbed us down also.

Posted by Nalod:

Key is larger package.

And Odom is "Oh-Dumb" kinda of player we don't need more of.

Raise the collective IQ, don't lower it.

Isiah might of got us younger and more athletic, but has dumbed us down also.

Although I agree with you that we don't need any more low IQ talent's... I think that you are underrating Lamar's game just a bit. This guy is good, there is no question about it... and he is a heady player on the floor. I would just be opposed to trading away Channing for him at this point, because Frye has the potential to be a real stand out player down the road. Moreover, we are not going anywhere, anytime soon.. This would be a lateral move in my opinion. It's not gonna change the dynamic of this team so greatly that we run the table after the allstar break and become playoff contenders.

Posted by EnySpree:

I think Larry Brown would have wanted Lamar Odom. Sheeeet....I want Lamar Odom.....the Knicks have to draw the line at Channing Frye.


And anyone that ****s on Odoms game should shut the **** up. Odom is definately a smart, skilled player that knows how to play this game. If anyone thinks Odom is "oh-dumb" like Nalod.....then you deserve these Knicks. Odom can play 5 positions well. Why wouldn't you want a guy like that?

Odom had a great year in Miami. The payoff for that? He brought in Shaq for them. I don't think Odom does well when he has to assert himself. He seems to have a submissive attitude on the floor. In Miami, the rookie Wade deferred to him a lot, and Eddie Jones, Caron Butler, Udonis Haslem, etc. were open to feeding him. He's never done well when he's had to scratch to establish himself on the floor.

Is this fair, Eny?

I'm with Envyspree on rhia. Odom ia still a very good player to have and he's a very solid passer, especially now that he's playing with Kobe! He can be a great scorer, but for now, he's just decent, which is fine. We already have scorers. We need smart players, and Odom has played for good teams and knows how to play.

Posted by Allanfan20:

I'm with Envyspree on rhia. Odom ia still a very good player to have and he's a very solid passer, especially now that he's playing with Kobe! He can be a great scorer, but for now, he's just decent, which is fine. We already have scorers. We need smart players, and Odom has played for good teams and knows how to play.

I actually am in agreement about Lamar's ability as well... But I still think this would be a lateral move, because Odom is not enough to make us contenders... Moreover, they are asking for Channing Frye as well. It doesn't make sense for us to pull the trigger on this move, given our record. I'd like to see Lamar Odom in NY, just not at the expense of Channing Frye.

I'd move Channing Frye if we can get back a young two-way force like Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, or Chris Bosh... Even the talks of K-Mart in NY make me weary when considering the asking price of Channing Frye. I've even cooled down considerably on my stance about KG in the Garden. (Right now it just doesn't make sense or cents for us to go that route... especially if we are not in the playoff hunt) ***As an aside- Kevin Garnett is my favorite player in the league.

By the way, I ain't protecting Channing Frye, as I feel that anybody can be dealt on this Knick Roster... I just don't think trading him for a stop gag is the answer, it doesn't help us now or in the future. If you can deal him, it has to be in a trade that gets back one of the more dynamic young big men in this league (Stoudemire, Howard, Bosh).. or a proven superstar in the Kobe Bryant/ Lebron James mold.. neither of which are likely to happen.


[Edited by - JayNYC on 02-12-2006 11:08 AM]

I do this, talent wise it's a wash and LB doesn't trust his young players. We can stop the fire LB threads, it's not gonna happen anytime soon. LB's signing was too much of a media circus. Odom can play 4 positions. Odom's career stats are indicative of how he's been used in his career. He's never been asked to be the "go to" guy. He's currently averaging 14 and 9 on 11 shots a game with almost 6 assists. The biggest reason I'd make this trade is because LB will play him NOW while he will continue to tinker with Frye's time on the court screwing up his confidence and making him inconsistant. Frye does look like he will be special but do we really know that?...and the way LB uses him, how long before we find out? Curry, Odom, QWoods, Marbs and JRose....that could be an awesome lineup but it's just a dream and I'm gonna wake up now!!

[Edited by - Travla on 02-12-2006 11:17]

If Isiah has rejected getting Odom, you have to think that Frye's trade value is really high. Remember Isiah is the same guy that turned down trading Frye for Artest. So you have to believe that Odom is a step backwards to Isiah

[Edited by - BigC on 02-12-2006 12:20 PM]

fish.mike - I'm witchoo. I've always liked the idea of Odom in a Knicks uniform. His history does not bother me nearly as much as Artest.

You could put him at the three and Jalen at the two and call it a day.

No risk. No reward

I like Odom more than Kmart, where do I sign up?