The Knicks have had "ongoing discussions" with the representatives for free-agent guard Shannon Brown, according to agent Mark Bartelstein.

"It's been something Donnie [Walsh, Knicks president] and I have talked about throughout the summer," Bartelstein said. "Mike [D'Antoni, Knicks coach] and Donnie and I have had conversations."

The Knicks have made a contract offer to Shannon Brown using a portion of their remaining salary-cap room, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports.

The 24-year-old Brown is weighing whether to join the Knicks, where he may eventually win the starting two-guard job, or wait for the Lakers who are trying to shed Sasha Vujacic's $5.4 million salary and relieve the luxury-tax burden of retaining Brown.

Berger also notes that New York is in pursuit of Rudy Fernandez and is known to covet Chris Paul.  In any trade offer, the Knicks would be able to combine the assets acquired from Golden State in the sign-and-trade that sent David Lee to the Warriors.  A prohibition on aggregating the salaries of recently acquired players only applies to teams that are over the cap.

Andrew Bynum underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee, it was announced today.  

The surgery was performed in New York by Dr. David Altchek.

Bynum, who suffered the tear in Game 6 of the Lakers? First Round series with Oklahoma City, started each of the team?s 23 postseason games despite the injury, averaging 8.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 24.4 minutes.

Bynum is expected to be available on a limited basis at the start of training camp and make a full recovery by the start of the regular season.

The Lakers are trying to trade guard Sasha Vujacic along with a future first-round pick in order to get his salary off the books, according to sources.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that Los Angeles tried to move Vujacic for the non-guaranteed contract of Delonte West before the Cavaliers sent him to the Timberwolves earlier this week.

Mitch Kupchak said he remains "optimistic" about the Lakers re-signing Shannon Brown and that he expects a resolution in negotiations in the next seven to 10 days.

Brown is also drawing interest from the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are still interested in free-agent guard Shannon Brown despite acquiring Ramon Sessions from the Timberwolves on Monday, according to a source.

"Source: Cavaliers' acquisition of Ramon Sessions not expected to affect their interest in free-agent G Shannon Brown," Ben Q. Rock of the Orlando Pinstriped Post wrote on his Twitter page.

Rajon Rondo doesn't agree with those that are already expecting the Heat to win the 2011 NBA championship.

"They should be good, but they ain't done nothing yet," Rondo said recently. "They ain't done nothing.

"What is there to be nervous for?" he said. "I'm worried about L.A. That's the team we need to beat. Miami looks really good on paper, and I'm sure they're going to be really good. But they still have to come together as a team. I'm not saying they won't, but who knows if those guys can jell?

"Our biggest opponent each night is ourselves ? that's how I look at it. Not to be cocky or anything, but that's how we honestly feel. We are the defending [Eastern] champs. Once the first game of the regular season starts, that's irrelevant. But we are going to go into training camp looking to get back to the Finals and win it."

Rondo says it will all depend on how quickly Miami's three superstars are able to gel.

"It depends on those three guys [James, Wade and Bosh] in particular, how they accept their roles," Rondo said. "Things aren't going to go each guy's particular way. It's going to be about how they handle it as gentlemen."

Lamar Odom is putting his differences with Matt Barnes in the past.

Barnes will officially be introduced as a member of the Lakers on Tuesday.

A war of words erupted between Odom and Barnes after the two got tangled up during Orlando's 96-94 win over Los Angeles on March 7.

Barnes also got tangled up with Kobe Bryant and even faked a pass at Bryant's head during an inbounds play.

Odom called Barnes a "monkey" after the game and continued to say, "[Barnes] was an action figure today. He was really involved and really into the game. It's too bad we are not going to see him again [in the regular season]."

Barnes responded on Twitter, writing, "Morning yall up early w/ the babies watchn Dora. Seems Lamar can't keep my name out his mouth maby I need 2 put my sons [expletive] diaper n it [sic]."

"He's a teammate now," Odom said while in Las Vegas for USA Basketball training camp on Saturday. "That was an on-the-court issue and he has a Lakers jersey on now, so it will be no big thing."

The Lakers are worried that forward Luke Walton will miss the 2010-11 season due to health issues.

Walton was limited to a career-low 29 games during the 2009-10 regular season because of back problems debilitating enough to require surgery.

Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak says that Walton will work through the summer to rehabilitate and build strength in his back but acknowledged the prospect of future surgery still exists.

"Absolutely. It's a possibility," Kupchak said. "It's not your run of the mill type back problem. We don't know where it's going to end up. He's a gamer and he loves to play. He wants to be a part of the team, and he'll do whatever it takes to get back on the court. That's a positive, to have the kind of player that's motivated to get well. That's not always the case."

In response to recent media inquiries, it has been announced today that Kobe Bryant recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.  The successful surgery was performed last week.  

Bryant is currently undergoing rehab and is expected to be fully recovered prior to the start of the Lakers? training camp on September 25.