via NYDailynews.com
Tuesday, players poked fun at one another as they stood in the mud to pose for a photo that could be outdated before the end of the month. With Carmelo Anthony's future in Denver unresolved, the Knicks remain in the hunt for one of the NBA's elite players.
Donnie Walsh is confident he can acquire a first-round pick to include in a deal for Anthony but the Knicks president still might not have enough assets to convince Denver to trade its franchise player. The Nuggets remain hopeful that they can convince Anthony to sign an extension.
Meanwhile, Walsh would have a chance to pry Rudy Fernandez away from Portland with a first-round pick. The questions the Knicks had concerning Wilson Chandler's recovery from offseason surgery are one reason why the club has explored the possibility of acquiring Fernandez, the disgruntled shooting guard who is in camp with the Trail Blazers after threatening to return to Spain.
How well Chandler progresses during the preseason will determine whether the Knicks revisit talks with the Blazers. According to a team source, Walsh tested the waters last month by offering Portland two future second-round picks in addition to one of the two players the Knicks picked in the second round in June - Andy Rautins or Landry Fields.
The Blazers rejected the deal and have summarily turned down trade offers from Boston and Chicago as well. Chandler, entering his fourth season, is one of the Knicks' more versatile players but is better suited to play small forward. Fernandez is a natural shooting guard with better range who could flourish in D'Antoni's system.
Plus, Fernandez is still on his rookie contract, and adding him would not affect the Knicks' salary-cap situation. Chandler, however, is in his contract year.
In Milan, D'Antoni felt that Chandler was slightly behind his teammates in terms of conditioning. That's understandable considering that Chandler had surgery on his ankle and groin over the summer and began running at full speed only three weeks ago.
But Chandler looked strong in the preseason opener against Armani Jeans Milano, scoring 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting in 22 minutes. Chandler remains one of the Knicks' most unassuming players off the court and more valuable players on it. Walsh
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