Mark Bartelstein, agent for Celtics free agent Antoine Walker, acknowledged Monday that he and Thomas have talked about some "conceptual" ideas to bring Walker to New York. Translation: sign-and-trade scenarios, something Bartelstein has acknowledged trying to broker for Walker with other teams, including Sacramento.

The agent wouldn't specify which players have been discussed and said "nothing's imminent." Yet each team's off-season philosophy suggests a deal is doable if Thomas also fulfills his desire for another big man by taking the sizeable contract of either Mark Blount (five years left at $33.7 million) or Raef LaFrentz (four, $45.4 million) off his division rival's payroll.

The Celtics, meanwhile, are reportedly seeking soon-to-expire contracts if they do deal - which the Knicks have in their own feast-or-famine forward, Tim Thomas (one year, almost $14 million), plus forward Maurice Taylor (two years, $18.85 million).

They're also willing to deal power forward Michael Sweetney (two years, $4.8 million), as well as the far less appealing contracts (and health) of Penny Hardaway (one year, $15.75 million) and Allan Houston (two years, almost $40 million).

How such a deal would get done and what players would be included to balance the salary-cap issues depends on what Walker is paid. Bartelstein expects it to be beyond the $5.1 million salary-cap exception, which is all the Knicks have to pursue a free agent directly, without a sign-and-trade.