Hooped Up

According to Jermaine O’Neal, the Pacers are in trade talks with several teams and it is well-known that Isiah Thomas has tried on several occasions to acquire O’Neal, whom he coached for three seasons in Indiana.

Thomas might try to move Zach Randolph, who last month was the subject of trade talks involving Milwaukee.

“The deal makes a lot of sense to me,” one Knicks player said on Wednesday.

“I think in this business you got to be willing to believe at some point, if your team struggles you are going to be traded,” O’Neal said Wednesday night. “I would accept it.”

New York Daily News

A story out of Sacramento and noted on a local website said the Nets New Jersey Nets offered Vince Carter Vince Carter to the Knicks New York Knicks and were rebuffed. Not so, insists one Western source who claimed knowledge of the talks but spoke on the condition of anonymity. His take was that in cursory talks the Knicks offered Zach Randolph for Carter and the Nets said no thanks. “Happened about a month ago,” he said.

NY Post

An NBA source told John Canzano of the Oregonian via telephone on Wednesday night that Zach Randolph is on the trading block, and that he’s likely to end up in Milwaukee.

The Oregonian

Queens native and Rockets point guard Rafer Alston knocked the Knicks point guards before last night’s game, saying they are the reason the big-man tandem of Eddy Curry Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph is not working. Alston and Coney Island’s Stephon Marbury are former playground rivals from adjoining boroughs. Alston took special glee late in the first quarter last night when he stripped Marbury at halfcourt and went in for a layup. Alston smiled devilishly all the way downcourt. On the next timeout, Alston patted Marbury on his rear.

NY Post

An angry Zach Randolph denied he’s held Eddy Curry back this season and believes the two can still play together. Despite the Knicks looking like a more cohesive unit without Randolph in their tight battle in San Antonio, Isiah Thomas played it safe and returned the controversial power forward back into the starting lineup last night vs. the Rockets. It didn’t work as the Knicks got off to a 20-9 deficit before Randolph was removed. Randolph had six turnovers but posted 18 points and a career-high 22 rebounds in the 103-91 loss.

NY Post

Randolph was called for a foul by Tony Brothers with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter of the Knicks’ 107-97 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. Randolph took off his headband and threw it in the direction of Brothers, landing near his feet. Though Brothers didn’t appear to notice at first, the NBA said in releasing the penalty that the headband hit the official.

AP/canoe.ca

Before the game, Zach Randolph said he was “shocked” when Isiah Thomas informed him during the morning stretch that he wouldn’t be starting. Asked if he would try to play his way back in, Randolph uttered an expletive and said, “I ain’t played my way out of it.” Even so, Randolph wound up only one rebound shy of his usual double-double, recording 22 points and nine rebounds in 33:07. Crawford had 29 points and eight assists, Lee 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Robinson 16 points - but no assists - in 25:51. Richardson was 3-for-12 from the field, including three air balls, for eight points in 36:29.

NY Newsday

It looks like the no headband rule in Chicago was not as unique as many people may think.

In two games with the Knicks, Zach Randolph has shown he can put up numbers and change his wardrobe at the same time. He usually starts the game with his headband, only to play it bald later on before returning to the headband.

“When (coach) Nate (McMillan) came to Portland he said we couldn’t wear them,” Randolph said. “Nate messed me up.”

New York Daily News

The Knicks have agreed in principle to acquire Zach Randolph, Fred Jones and Dan Dickau from the Blazers for Channing Frye and Steve Francis.

ESPN