Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith could become the third player to win consecutive NBA slam dunk contests when he participates in the event during All-Star weekend.

Michael Jordan won back-to-back competitions in 1987-88 and Jason Richardson did it in 2002-03.

Joining Smith in contest this year will be Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks 5-foot-9 guard Nate Robinson and Hakim Warrick of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Knicks coach Larry Brown came close to waving the white flag on the season during yesterday's morning shootaround.

And then his players made a full surrender last night, quitting in the second half of the disgusting 120-101 blowout loss to the Hawks (12-31) at the more than half-empty Philips Arena.

Team Titanic, which fell behind by 30 points early in the fourth quarter, is not deserving of being part of tonight's big show at the Garden when Kobe Bryant and the Lakers come in. The way the Knicks defended against the Hawks, Bryant just might rack up his 100 points tonight.

Brown was livid afterward, saying his team quit.

"Looked that way, didn't it?" Brown said. "Looked that way to me. The second half we looked like we wanted to get home."

In losing last night, the Knicks, owning the highest payroll and with its president embroiled in a sexual harassment suit, have the NBA's third-worst record, falling to a season-worst 15 games below .500 at 14-29.

"We didn't compete at all as far as trying to win the game," said Stephon Marbury.

Before the game, Brown made his strongest statement the Knicks are focusing on next season and not on making a playoff push. The Knicks' coach acknowledged it's time to look at the future, spotlight the young guys, even the obscure 20-year-old center Jackie Butler, the only man who showed up to play (15 points, four blocks).

"The way the season's going, [Butler] may have to play more and more," Brown said beforehand. "We're 14-28. It might be in this team's best interests to think about playing guys like him."

Maurice Taylor was stunned at Brown's quitting assertion.

"Throwing in the towel, that's ludicrous," Taylor said. "It's a bad game granted. It's too bad of a conference to do that. We have [39] games to go. No reason for us to quit."

Atlanta forward Al Harrington is expected to be the next big name moved before the Feb. 23 trading deadline. Atlanta loves Nuggets injured forward-center Nene, but don't expect Denver to give in.

The Bulls will have room under the salary cap this summer for the first time since their celebrated ?full-boat? free-agent quests of 2000 and 2001.

Back then, when the team was horrible, the arrival of a future free agent such as Tracy McGrady or Eddie Jones was one of the few highlights on the schedule.

Thankfully for Bulls fans, times have changed. Saturday at the United Center, the Bulls got their first look this season at Atlanta?s Al Harrington, who could end up being their No. 1 target in free agency this summer.

As auditions go, this wasn?t a very good one. With Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf watching from his suite, Harrington produced 13 points and 4 rebounds, while hitting 5 of 15 shots. The Bulls survived a late comeback to turn back the Hawks 111-99.

The Bulls tried to trade for Harrington, a 6-foot-9 forward, in 2003 when he played for Indiana, but the Pacers wouldn?t accept an offer of the No. 7 draft pick. The Bulls ended up keeping the pick and selected Luol Deng, who scored 18 points Saturday.

Overall this season, Harrington, 25, is averaging 18.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and shooting 46.3 percent. A possible future with the Bulls is definitely on his mind.

?Obviously, they?re one of the top teams on my list as a free agent,? Harrington said. ?They?re right there. This house is definitely going to be a situation I?m going to look at in free agency and if it?s a fit, I?ll be here.?

The Bulls have a spot available for Harrington at power forward and believe he could fit in with their plan of a hard-working, unselfish team.

?They?re doing a great job of putting this team together,? Harrington said of the Bulls. ?Everybody complements each other well. I think the biggest thing that they?re missing is a person like myself that would be a post presence night in and night out. That?s why, obviously, I think this would be a good situation and I?m sure management feels that way also."

Indiana Pacers officials aren't talking, but a former Pacer thinks he knows where Ron Artest will be traded.

Al Harrington told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday that he heard from people in Indiana the Pacers were close to a deal that would send Artest to the Los Angeles Clippers for forward Corey Maggette.

"Any team with a sane Ron Artest is going to be tough to deal with," Harrington told the Atlanta newspaper. "Any team he's on with his mind right is going to the playoffs and is going to make some noise. So it'll be good for Ron and for the Clippers."

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh declined comment Wednesday.

The Pacers placed Artest on the inactive list Dec. 12, two days after he voiced his desire to be traded. Artest said he hears the rumors about where he will end up.

"You hear about them, but you never know what's true," he said. "I'm just waiting to find out which team I'll be playing for."

The Atlanta Hawks today requested waivers on center John Thomas, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight.

Thomas appeared in 11 games with the Hawks, averaging 0.8 ppg and 0.9 rpg in 6.0 mpg (.429 FG%, .750 FT%). The sixth-year veteran was claimed off waivers by Atlanta on November 25, 2005.

He also spent time earlier this season with Memphis, playing in three games with the Grizzlies, and averaging 1.3 ppg and 0.3 apg in three contests (2-2 FGs). Thomas was waived by Memphis on November 22, 2005.

Thomas was originally selected in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft (25th overall) by the New York Knicks. As a senior at the University of Minnesota, he captained the Golden Gophers to the 1997 NCAA Final Four.

No Hawks player has inspired more Internet chatter in recent weeks than veteran shooting guard Tony Delk.

Is he healthy? Can he play? What's the deal?

The heel injury Delk had during training camp healed weeks ago. But he's been active for just one game all season and hasn't played a second since the preseason, when he averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds. Delk is as confused about his inactivity as anyone but has resisted the urge to speak out publicly, which he declined to do before Tuesday night's game against Toronto.

"Right now [Hawks general manager] Billy [Knight] and I need to sit down and discuss Tony's future and where it lies with our franchise," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "We have a lot of perimeter guys. Is Tony good enough to still play? Sure he is. Has he been a true professional and then some? Absolutely. He's been all that and more. So I have no beef with Tony, and I'm sure the organization feels the same way I do. He has to just continue to work as long as he's with us, which I'm sure he'll do. And we really have to figure out what we're going to do on our end."

Pete Vescey says he has a source who tells him that the Clippers are tapping Sam Cassell to try to lure Latrell Sprewell to L.A.  

Cassell played with Sprewell in Minnesota.  

This is an alternative to parting with Corey Maggette to acquire Ron Artest in a 3-way deal that would send Maggette to Atlanta with Al Harrington going back to Indiana.