Peter Vescey reports in his latest column for the New York Post that All-Star forward Wally Szczerbiak of the Minnesota Timberwolves is certainly available, but there is a catch.  To acquire the sharp shooter you must also take on the contract of Marc Jackson, all 5-years for $21.2 million.  Vescey reports that at least one dozen teams, including the Knicks, have been contacted regarding their interest.

In other news both the Knicks and Wolves are trying to acquire Suns point man Stephon Marbury, the latter of whom is dying to reunite him with Kevin Garnett.  The Suns meanwhile would love to re-acquire Antonio McDyess from the Nuggets but according to Vescey that is the last place Antonio would consider playing.  San Antonio remains an options.

Finally Vescey reports that the Knicks, Blazers, Warriors and Clippers are bombarding the Bulls and Rockets with all sorts of tempting offers for the draft's top two slots.  The Knicks have eyes for Yao Ming while the others all covet Jay Williams.  Both teams are expected to stand pat.

The closest that the Orlando Magic will come to the annual NBA Draft lottery this afternoon in Secaucus, N.J., will be having coach Doc Rivers on the other side of the Hudson River in NBC's studios.

Even if the Magic hadn't sent a first-round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns in November as part of the Bo Outlaw trade, they would not have been among the teams in the process to determine the first 13 picks of the June 26 draft. The Suns, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 1988, will draft ninth unless they overcome long mathematical odds to win one of the first three picks in the lottery.

The Magic were owed a pick by the Suns sometime through 2006 before sending that selection to Phoenix in an attempt by general manager John Gabriel to create more space under the salary cap for next summer's group of free agents.

A total of 55 college and high school players and 14 international players were on the list released Friday by the league of early entry candidates. Players can withdraw their names by notifying the NBA in writing no later than June 19.

Although that list includes Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy of Duke and Caron Butler of Connecticut, the top pick is expected to be 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming. Gary Brokaw, the Magic's director of player personnel, was among those who attended the May 1 workout in Chicago that the league had arranged for the native of China.

Barring a trade, the Magic will choose 18th overall and won't have a pick in the second round as a result of a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. They will begin bringing in players for workouts as early as late this week, with their list of prospects expected to include Amare Stoudamire of nearby Cypress Creek High School.

JUD AND TOM

Jud Buechler, who still has another year to go on his contract with the Magic, has twice been teammates with one-time Magic forward and current NBC studio analyst Tom Tolbert. Buechler was a sophomore at Arizona in the late '80s while Tolbert was a senior, and Buechler stayed at Tolbert's house when the two of them were members of the Golden State Warriors in 1992.

Among the memories Tolbert has of Buechler is of the latter's hair.

"You could have a category five hurricane, and it wouldn't move," Tolbert said.

Tolbert wore a perm during his one season with the Magic but is now, in his words, "follicly challenged" and trims his hair every four or five days without shaving it off completely.

"Everybody's like, Why don't you just go ahead and shave it bald?' " he said. "And I'm like, Well, I don't to shave it bald because that defeats the purpose of having high-maintenance hair.' When you shave it, that's as high of maintenance as you can be."

SO LONG, CHARLOTTE

The Magic finished with a 9-15 lifetime record in Charlotte against the Hornets, whose move to New Orleans next season became official shortly before they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the New Jersey Nets.

The Magic almost broke even on the road against the Hornets after starting out 0-5. Their first win came in April 1993, with the last one being a 111-103 overtime victory April 20 in their best-of-five first-round series.

Allen Iverson is a frustrated man, there is no denying that.  Just listening to him speak yesterday will tell you that.  He is an emotional balloon that yesterday was blown up too big and exploded, showing that the recent talk of problems between he and coach Larry Brown and that he might be traded during the off season had gotten too much for him.

His Sixers team mates had their end-of-season meeting with coach Larry Brown and general manager Billy King three days ago, and yesterday it was Iverson?s turn.  While the results from the meeting apparently are that both Brown and Iverson will be back next year, Iverson?s tirade afterwards suggests that is not etched in stone.

After losing Game 5 Iverson refused to meet with Brown, prompting the coach to fire some warning shots at Iverson Saturday.  According to Ashley Fox of the Philadelphia Inquirer Brown made it clear that no player is safe from being traded, Iverson included. And everyone, Iverson included, must prove to Brown he is willing to do whatever the coach asks - practice, work out, play hard - or else be gone. And, Brown said, the proverbial clock is ticking.

Those comments lead to Iverson meeting with Brown yesterday in an attempt to clear the air.  Iverson?s sound-off ranging from work ethic to practice to trade rumors to his best friend being killed last fall read like the two still have their issues, issues that are perhaps unrepairable.  Brown didn?t comment on what was said, but will hold a news conference today to address the media.

"Why are we talking about this?" Iverson said. "Everybody on my team, all the rest of the soldiers that went to war with me, are enjoying their summer, enjoying it. But look at me. Look what I'm going through... . It's summertime. I'm supposed to be with my kids and my wife chilling.

"I've got to go through this. This is what I've got to go through. This is Allen Iverson's life in a nutshell. I know I don't do everything right. I do a whole lot of s---- that ain't right. Yes, I do."

"Now it's not even about me and coach Brown. It's about Allen Iverson, that's it. The ball is in his corner. I read the little articles. My friends tell me what people say.?

"If I can't practice, I can't practice. If I'm hurt, I'm hurt," Iverson insisted yesterday. "It's not about that. It's easy to sum it up when you talk about practice. I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're in here talking about practice. Not a game - we're talking about practice. How silly is that??

"I know I'm supposed to be there, I know I'm supposed to lead by example, I know that. I'm not shoving it aside. I know it's important, but we're talking about practice."

"I'm the MVP and I've got to worry about trade talk. I'm the MVP. The MVP...When I lose, this is what I've got to go through?"

There is no doubt that there has been an immense amount of emotional stress on Iverson this year, starting with losing his best friend to a slaying in Virginia in the fall to losing to the Celtics in the opening round only last week, but for the Sixers will time heal all or will the emotions simply be bottled over the summer.  Iverson already holds a grudge against Brown, claiming the two ?are not as close as he thought? after Brown?s recent comments ? which, IMO, are not really fair for the reigning MVP (Duncan is not official yet) ? so the question still remains will the two ever be on the same page again?

"Just for one minute try to stick your foot in my shoe and try to deal with what I go through in my life," Iverson said. "My best friend dead, and we lost.?

"Now this is what I've got to go through for the rest of the summer until the season starts again. This is my life in a nutshell."

That?s why maybe it would be better if both sides started over fresh, Iverson getting a clean break with a new coach, a new team and a new system while the Sixers get some new blood and with it a new lease for life.