MEMPHIS - Knicks management is actively making calls with three weeks to go before the Feb. 20 trading deadline, but are frustrating fellow league executives with its vagueness.

"They always call saying, ‘We're open for business,' but that's as far as it gets sometimes," one league executive told The Post. "They're open for business but you never know what's on their shelf. It's like: Can you tell us if you still play in the Garden or is that a secret too? Maybe they're not ready to play poker until it's really time to play poker."

The league buzz is the Knicks are trying to "get younger and longer" at the trading deadline and obviously are still looking to deal Latrell Sprewell. Last week the Knicks again tried gauging the level of interest Portland has in Sprewell but have yet to make the Blazers a specific offer all season.

One person familiar with the Blazers' thinking said Portland management fears a backlash from its market if it obtains Sprewell, even though he could be a missing piece to a serious playoff run if he can play his natural shooting-guard position.

The Blazers have been rocked with off-the-court law-breaking incidents with Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire and Ruben Patterson. Layden has always cherished big man Dale Davis, but he hardly makes the club younger.

For the first time since Layden took over, the Knicks aren't in the market for a point guard with the deadline looming, with Gary Payton is available. Layden is confident Milos Vujanic will sign with the Knicks next season and he'd have a shot at starting. And the play of the point-guard tandem of Howard Eisley, who had his career-high 30 points last night, and Charlie Ward has been sound.
http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/29606.htm

spree and weatherspoon for qyntel woods, ruben boumtje-boumtje, bonzi wells?

they are not giving up 'sheed, not giving up zach randolph, and we dont need one of their 3 pg's - and they are not giving up pippen. he's their glue.