Chris Broussard writes that McDyess received plenty of respect at yesterday's Entertainers' Basketball Classic. He was greeted by enthusiastic, though not boisterous, cheers when introduced to the crowd, and fans who strolled past him in the bleachers welcomed him to New York with smiles, handshakes and hugs.

When he attempted to come back from his knee surgery late last season with the Denver Nuggets, McDyess, 27, expressed discouragement because he was not able to jump as high as before. But yesterday, he said he thought he was leaping better than ever.

"The explosiveness is there," he said. "I'm jumping a lot quicker and jumping a lot higher, so I have no doubts in my jumping ability right now. It's kind of surprised me. My knee's not bothering me at all. I'm just ready to get out there and looking forward to this year."

Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News reports that the Knicks are still in the market for a point guard. After Andre Miller and Baron Davis were removed from the equation, they are looking at Nick Van Exel.

Knicks GM Scott Layden is expected to make a play for Van Exel. But as of yesterday, Layden hadn't contacted Dallas. The Mavs are looking to improve their defense with someone who can defend in the paint and rebound? someone like the Knicks? Kurt Thomas. Because of the differences in salaries, any deal involving Van Exel and Thomas would also include more salary going to the Mavericks.

One Western Conference executive who recently talked to the Mavs said that Dallas fully intends on keeping Van Exel, and would consider moving him only if doing so can significantly improve the team. "They think Van Exel will help them a ton," the official said.

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports: Besides gambling on Antonio McDyess' surgically repaired knees, the Knicks are adding another big man coming off a serious leg injury, agreeing to the $1 million exception yesterday with free-agent backup center Michael Doleac.
The Knicks said last night nothing was finalized, but sources said there could be an announcement as soon as today.

Doleac, 25, missed almost half of last season for Cleveland after suffering a broken left ankle. But that apparently didn't dissuade Knicks president Scott Layden from picking up the 6-11 backup, the first free agent the Knicks contacted on July 1, and a player Layden has tried several times to trade for in the past.

Layden has rolled some big dice on McDyess, who missed all but 10 games last season in Denver. To a lesser extent, he's also taking a gamble on Doleac, who broke the ankle last Nov. 21 and missed 30 games. At least Doleac returned from his injury, in January, but saw limited playing time the rest of the season for the 29-win Cavaliers. In 42 games, he averaged only 4.6 ppg and 4.0 rebounds in 17 minutes a game.

Doleac, who made $2 million last season, is taking a pay cut. Although it's called the $1 million exception, it's actually for slightly more. The 12th overall pick in the 1998 draft by Orlando, Doleac will make $1.4 million this coming season and $1.5 million next season.

Doleac's signing still leaves the Knicks with the $4.5 million exception, but it's doubtful they'll be using it. Like many other players in this watered down free-agent pool, Doleac did not have many suitors. According to league sources, only Memphis and the Knicks had serious interest in signing him. But once the Grizzlies signed Cezary Trybanski, a 7-1 center out of Poland, to a three-year, $4.8 million deal, Doleac was left with only the Knicks' offer.

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports that both the Nets and the Knicks are stepping up their efforts to land free agents. The Knicks are trying to bolster their front court with Cleveland?s Michael Doleac while the Nets want to sign a quality backup point guard in Toronto?s Chris Childs.

The Nets are close to a deal with Childs and could announce a contract as early as this week. It is expected that he will sign for two years and about $3.5 million.

The Knicks aren?t as close to a deal, but according to league sources, talks between the team and the 6-11 center are heating up and moving into the serious stage. Doleac is expected to be in New York for a ?recruiting trip? later this week.

"It's going fine. I'm optimistic Michael would be a real good fit if it were to happen," Doleac's agent, Glen Schwartzman, said yesterday. "We're still talking and I'll really have a better feel for matters [today]."

Unless he can brainwash Cleveland general manager Jim Paxson into surrendering point guard Andre Miller in a trade, it appears that Knicks general manager Scott Layden's free-agent shopping this summer will be limited to a modest offer to Cavs backup center Michael Doleac. Unrestricted free-agent center Keon Clark of Toronto is virtually out of the picture because Layden is unwilling to pay him the full $4.55- million midlevel salary-cap exception.

The days of overspending for mediocre talent, as the Knicks did last year when they traded Glen Rice for expensive, long-term obligations to benchwarmers Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley, are over. If Layden felt Clark was worth it after averaging career highs of 11.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in only 27 minutes per game last season, he'd pay, but an NBA source indicated that the Knicks don't believe anyone in this summer's market is worth the full exception.

If Clark won't take less, the Knicks' search for a big man leads directly to Doleac by process of elimination. Seattle already re-signed center Jerome James, and second-year man Jarron Collins is expected to re-sign with Utah. Minnesota GM Kevin McHale has made it clear that he will match any offer to restricted free-agent center Rasho Nesterovic.

According to Greg Logan, that leaves the 6-11, 262-pound Doleac, and he would have to settle for little more than half the midlevel exception. There is competition, but Doleac can't command much more after a season in which he played only 42 games and averaged 4.6 points and 4.0 rebounds. One thing in the Knicks' favor is that Doleac has a brother attending nearby West Point.

Marc Berman reports that unrestricted free-agent center Michael Doleac told The Post that Knick GM Scott Layden invited him for a recruiting visit and he is expected take them up on the offer.

"Yeah, I think I'll come down," said the 6-11, 260-pounder who spent the day water-skiing in Utah.

Al Iannazzone writes that when Keon Clark was a restricted free agent, the Knicks only showed token interest in the 6-foot-11 center. Since Clark became unrestricted Monday, not much has changed.

"I don't think Keon is high on the Knicks' list," a league source said.

The Knicks have spoken to Clark's agent since Toronto cut him loose, but just to touch base. It was at least the third time they spoke since teams could begin negotiating with free agents July 1.

New York, however, doesn't appear willing to use the full $4.545 million mid-level salary-cap exception on Clark, who averaged 11.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.51 blocks for the Raptors last season. The Knicks would be more apt to split the mid-level exception between two players

Marc Berman reports that Knicks GM Scott Layden picked up the check for coffee when he met with unrestricted free agent center Michael Doleac Saturday at a Salt Lake City coffeehouse.

Whether Layden's willing to pick up the tab on a new multi-million dollar contract - or chase the more talented Keon Clark - could be decided by week's end.

In the character department, Doleac is solid gold. He nearly attempted to get a commission to West Point but when a scholarship came through at Utah, he took it. He's now taking pre-med classes at Utah, with an eye on med school.

"I just want to play," said Doleac, who has no problems coming off the bench. "Play and win. My brother's a junior now and he'll have more time off base. That would be nice."

Dave D'Alessandro reports that the Knicks still need a center. Keon Clark is the best player taller than 6-9 remaining in the free-agent market, other than Michael Olowokandi, who is sure to re-sign with the Clippers. The Knicks have no interest in Keon Clark.

Somebody explain all that to Jim Mourer.

"All I'm going to say is that the Knicks haven't shown much interest all along," said the agent, whose client was freed by Toronto Monday to become an unrestricted free agent, enabling Clark to sign with any team. "And I don't think they want him. ... Well, there's not much interest. They did call (Monday), but there's nothing to report.

"I just don't know how else to say it: The Knicks have other priorities, other than Keon."

Greg Logan of Newsday reports that the Knicks are still looking to bolster their front court by talking with Cleveland free agent Michael Doleac.

Layden has been bargain shopping for help in the middle. He declined to offer the full $4.55 million mid-level salary exception to Jerome James, who got that amount to re-sign with Seattle last week, but Doleac, who made just over $2 million last year with the Cavs, might agree to take half the exception. Two NBA sources and another person close to Doleac confirmed the meeting.

The free agent market got a boost yesterday when Toronto made Keon Clark an unrestricted free agent. Clark?s agent, Jim Mourer said yesterday that he still hasn't heard from Layden since his initial call when the negotiating period opened July 1.