Marc Berman of the New York Post reports: A candid Antonio McDyess loves the Knicks just the way they are and would like them to keep Latrell Sprewell - and he sent that message to management loud and clear.

During his introductory news conference yesterday, the 6-9 McDyess said he wanted to be in New York for the "long-term," believing that the core of himself, Allan Houston and Sprewell could compete for the Eastern title. McDyess also believes his experience in the rugged West could turn him into the East's best power forward.

To make the draft-night deal work, McDyess waived the opt-out clause in his contract, which would have made him a free agent after next season. Now he has two years left on his pact, and he raised the possibility of a contract extension. Under the league's collective bargaining agreement, the Knicks can extend his pact in January.

"I expect to be here long-term," McDyess said. "Hopefully, that will happen and it will work out for me to be here."

McDyess also stated - emphatically - that the Knicks should keep Sprewell, whom the Knicks have been shopping heavily. "No question in my mind, Latrell and Allan are the two main reasons I wanted to come here," McDyess said. "They haven't asked me anything, but I think they probably know now because of how much I emphasized playing with those guys, that I would love for Sprewell to be here."

With the All-Star trio, McDyess said the Knicks could win the East, even standing pat. Kurt Thomas and McDyess will form the frontcourt tandem and the Knicks would love to add restricted free agent Keon Clark with their $4.7 million mid-level exception.

"I think it's going to be a combination with us three," said McDyess, Sprewell's fellow Alabama alumnus. "We can be one of the best teams in the East, by far. I think we're a great team right now. It can be better but whatever moves they're willing to make, I feel they're going to be good ones, if that's getting a center or not. If I've got to play center I would."

An All-Star two seasons ago, McDyess thinks he'll be an All-Star again. "No doubt in my mind I can be one of the most or the most dominant power forwards in the East," McDyess said.

Chris Berman tells us that the dealing isn't done. Running a hot streak after stealing power forward Antonio McDyess on Draft Night, Knicks GM Scott Layden has turned his attention to acquiring another center.

Keon Clark's agent, Jim Mourer, said all things being equal, Keon would choose a warm-climate club - Florida or Texas. The Knicks may have to offer Clark the maximum length for the exception - a six-year, $35 million pact to have a chance.

The Raptors can match any offer but are within $1 million of the luxury-tax threshold. Mourer said the McDyess deal enhances Clark's interest in New York. They were friends when both played in Denver.

Greg Logan writes that ignoring calls from some quarters to tear down the Knicks' bloated salary structure and start over, Layden traded injury-prone center Marcus Camby to Denver for All-Star power forward Antonio McDyess during the NBA draft last night at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. It's a move geared toward making an immediate turnaround after missing the playoffs for the first time in 15 seasons.

The deal almost was sidetracked when McDyess at first refused to make any promises about not exercising the opt-out clause in his contract after next season. It has two years to run at $12.6 million next season and $13.5 million in 2003-04. The trade wasn't completed until about five minutes before the Knicks had to pick, but agent Andy Miller said, "I anticipate [McDyess] will have a long career in New York."

As part of the deal, the Knicks used the seventh pick to select Brazilian forward Maybyner (Nene) Hilario for the Nuggets. They also unloaded 37-year-old point guard Mark Jackson and the final two years of his contract. They received the 25th pick in the first round from the Nuggets, who used it to draft Illinois point guard Frank Williams for the Knicks.

Despite all of the talk, the Bucks are likely to keep their first round pick in tonight?s NBA Draft. Michael Hunt, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Bucks fielded many calls Tuesday from NBA teams interested in their No. 13 pick, with the intention of moving up or down in the draft. There were inquiries about trades, as well as the usual spate of unfounded rumors.

But by the end of the day, all of the talks yielded little. "Up to this point, nothing has happened," Bucks general manager Ernie Grunfeld said. "We keep listening, keep talking. It's still likely we're going to keep our own pick, but at the same time we'll continue to explore all of our options."

The Bucks have held discussions with New York, several league insiders confirmed, about Milwaukee native Latrell Sprewell. One scenario had Sprewell coming to the Bucks in exchange for Robinson and one other player, possibly Ervin Johnson, but those possibilities apparently never reached the serious stage.

The Bucks would like to make a roster adjustment because of their failure to reach the playoffs last year. But they still feel that their roster is good enough to contend for the Eastern Conference title. The organization sees last season?s injuries, Anthony Mason?s failure to fit in with the team and the cavalier attitudes of some key players as the main reasons for the team?s collapse.

For that reason, the Bucks continue to weigh the possibilities. "A lot of people are interested in our pick," Grunfeld said. "There's been a lot of conversations. We'll see if anything comes of it (tonight)."

Chris Broussard writes that the Knicks yesterday continued to initiate discussions with Cleveland, which drafts sixth, and were attempting to pry Andre Miller away from the Cavaliers for their seventh pick and a Knicks veteran.

Cleveland, however, appears to have better options. According to several league executives, the Los Angeles Clippers are willing to send Corey Maggette and their two first-round picks (Nos. 8 and 12) to Cleveland for Miller. The Cavaliers are pushing the Clippers to replace Maggette with either Darius Miles or Quentin Richardson. The Cavaliers could also decide to trade picks with Phoenix, which is currently in the ninth spot, in order to recoup their first-round selection next season from Phoenix.

Phoenix is one of several teams attempting to move up to the No. 5 or 6 spot. The targeted players for those clubs are power forwards Maybyner (Nen?) Hil?rio of Brazil, Chris Wilcox of Maryland, and Nikoloz Tskitishvili of the Italian League.

Most of the trade activity will start after the draft begins, and the Knicks may not know which way they will go until the clubs in front of them begin trading or selecting players. That being the case, the Knicks, who also own the 36th pick, will enter the draft with the intention of choosing a player with the seventh pick. There is a strong feeling within the organization that the club needs to maximize this pick, most likely via a trade, because it is one of the few valuable assets it has. So there is a possibility that the Knicks could draft a player and trade him.

"We'll certainly go into the draft being prepared to select at seven," Layden said. "You have to be ready. We think there'll be a player there we'll be very happy with. Having said that, if a deal comes along we'll certainly look at that."

The Knicks remain high on Wilcox, the 6-11, 225-pound sophomore, but Hil?rio may be just as high on their list. Both are incredibly athletic with great upside, but at 6-11 and 260 pounds, Hil?rio can play center as well as power forward. The Knicks also like Jared Jeffries of Indiana, a 6-11, 230-pound forward. Jeffries has been sensational in workouts, impressing teams with his varied offensive skills, athleticism and work ethic. A week after Indiana lost in the Final Four, Jeffries went to Sarasota, Fla., to bulk up his then-thin 215-pound body at the IMG Academy . Eating five meals a day, working out twice daily and taking nutritional supplements, he added 15 pounds of muscle. Jeffries, who hopes to reach 240 pounds before next season, put himself in impressive company when saying the Knicks will not be disappointed if they select him.

"I think I'll be kind of like a Dirk Nowitzki-, Lamar Odom-, Kevin Garnett-type player," Jeffries said.

He added: "I want to be somewhere where I can come in and have a chance to play right away with other great players. Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell are two of the best guards in the league. If I can add a little frontcourt help and be able to come in and contribute right away, it's great."

Jeffries was not the only player to eschew modesty. Tskitishvili boldly declared that he is sure he can be as good as Nowitzki, the Dallas Mavericks all-star, and Pau Gasol, the Memphis Grizzlies' rookie of the year who is from Spain.

"Gasol is from Europe, I'm from Europe, and I can do big things like him," Tskitishvili said.

Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times reports that the Bucks are busy in these last hours before the draft. According to several NBA sources, the Bucks could make a major explosion on the trading scene by Wednesday night's NBA Draft. The Bucks, sources said, are in discussions with several teams about trades, including some minor ones and a major one.

The Bucks have been inquiring around, trying to gauge Glen Robinson?s trade value, and may have found a deal they can live with. "They're working on a Robinson trade as we speak,'' a source close to the Bucks said. "I'd say the chances are good he's going to be traded, but you never know. It's at a touchy stage right now.''

Robinson's name has popped up on trade talks in the last two years, especially after the Bucks re-signed free-agent Tim Thomas. But the Robinson rumors have never been as rampant as they are now. Said one NBA general manager, "His name is out there. He can be had.'' A player personnel director, when asked who would probably be the biggest "name'' player dealt this summer, said, "Probably Robinson.''

Last week, published reports surfaced that the Bucks and Knicks had recently discussed a trade involving Robinson and Knicks star guard Latrell Sprewell. Sprewell played high school basketball at Milwaukee Washington, and currently has a home near Grunfeld's. A friend of Sprewell's said the guard would "very much'' like to play for the Bucks next season. A source close to the Bucks, however, said the Knicks initiated talks and that the Bucks have only lukewarm interest in Sprewell. Marcus Camby or Kurt Thomas may be more to the Bucks? liking.

There are rumors that Robinson isn?t the only trade bait being discussed by the Bucks. GM Ernie Grunfeld insists he's satisfied to remain in the 13th spot for Wednesday's draft. But there are rumblings Grunfeld would like to move up.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the sixth overall pick, but Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson has publicly admitted he isn't opposed to moving down in the draft. The Bucks and Phoenix Suns allegedly have expressed interest in acquiring the Cavaliers pick. The Bucks presumably would move up to draft either Chris Wilcox of Maryland or Maybyner Hilario of Brazil, both power forwards, or forward Nicholz Tskitishvili from the country of Georgia.

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune gazes into the future to see what the
Bulls may look for in free agency. Negotiations begin July 1, and signings can start July 16. And this should be the year for the Bulls.

The Bulls had a ton of cap room in 2000 and couldn?t land the big-name free agents they wanted. This may cause them to go all out this summer and not wait for the superstar free agent class of 2003. They may be only one player away from the playoffs and having one of the most athletic teams in the East for years to come.

That player? Toronto free agent Keon Clark.

"He's the best free agent out there," said one league general manager. "He's athletic, long, had a good playoff, can run the court, plays (power forward and center). He can shove [Tyson] Chandler maybe to (small forward). He'd be great for them."

The Raptors already have more than $50 million in salaries committed for next season without re-signing Clark. Retaining him would put them well above the luxury-tax threshold, and they insist they won't pay the tax. Plus Clark was one of the most vocal Raptors who complained about the favored treatment of Vince Carter, at least privately.

The Knicks and 76ers are said to be interested, but the Bulls actually are more attractive for several reasons. They're putting together a good young nucleus with Chandler, Eddy Curry and possibly Williams, and they may have salary-cap room available. Clark is a restricted free agent, so the Raptors can match an offer because Clark has so-called "Bird rights."

Marc Berman writes of Scott Layden's 2nd round draft pick and 6-6 shooting guard Predrag Savovic of Croatia.

The 26-year-old Savovic, who played three years at the University of Hawaii, shot lights out during his Knicks' workout last month against Dajuan Wagner. Unfortunately, Savovic may have raised his stock from second-rounder to late first-round by an excellent showing at the Chicago pre-draft camp 21/2 weeks ago.

There are a few more tidbits about Wilcox and couple more second round prospects.

RealGM poster 'Da Notorious RealGM ' poses some interesting questions as draft night approaches. What are GM Scott Layden's plans? Is he going to draft big or small? Is he going to draft an immediate contributor, or a player who will develop over the next few years? Or, is he going to trade the pick for a more established veteran?