kind of a summary of the news articles today...

Chaney staying, Nailon in, Spree out?

Here we go. After a few days of stunned silence, the Latrell Sprewell rumor mill is churning up again. No, there isn't any new evidence of a deal with Portland, Minnesota or Dallas. But for you sign readers out there (you know who you are), the omens couldn't look more ominious for Spree.

For starters, the Knicks extended coach Don Chaney's contract. In the aftermath of the extension, owner James Dolan also gave general manager Scott Layden a vote of confidence. Then, Layden went out and signed small forward Lee Nailon to a one-year deal.

How does all of this fit together? First, Dolan has been a staunch supporter of Chaney and Layden in their attempts to rein Spree in. In fact, according to the N.Y. Daily News, he initiated the disciplinary actions. According to the Daily News, Dolan made the decision to fine Sprewell and later issued a gag order on all Sprewell-related matters. "It's not about Spree and myself, it's all about the team and all about winning," Dolan said.

Dolan has been preaching character this season and you're starting to see the effects. The Knicks didn't have to do or say anything, but the extension and the vote of confidence should send a clear message to Spree and the rest of the team that management isn't going to take the fall for the Knicks' woes.

Second, Nailon's signing is more significant than it appears on its face. He left New Orleans, in part, because he felt that there wouldn't be enough minutes behind Jamal Mashburn, George Lynch and Stacey Augmon. The Knicks have even more small forwards than the Hornets — Spree, Shandon Anderson, Clarence Weatherspoon and Mark Pope. Why would Nailon, an unrestricted free agent, agree to join the Knicks?

Money is part of it. Few teams are in the spend mode right now and Nailon looks to get between $800,000 (according to the N.Y. Post) and $1.5 million (according to the N.Y. Daily News). But there's more than that. One league source told Insider late Tuesday that the Knicks told Nailon they were "confident" they were making progress on trading Spree. Whether that actually translates into a real trade remains to be seen.

A lot may depend on how quickly Spree can return. Knicks doctors told Spree Tuesday that he shouldn't participate in contact drills for two more weeks as he recuperates from a broken right pinkie.

Spree hopes to get back sooner. "My goal is after the five, to be out there, ready to go," Sprewell told the N.Y. Post. "Sitting in Jersey [versus the Nets on Friday] I didn't realize how badly I wanted to be on the floor. It hit me. It's not going to be fun sitting and watching."