ESPN's Ric Bucher said that he's "heard a rumor that a Artest deal was in the making" to send the talented two-way swingman back home to New York to play for the Knicks.

Bucher reports the following principal trade terms:  a first-round pick, Nate Robinson and either David Lee or Renaldo Balkman.  

The Knick may want to include Malik Rose but the Kings want expiring contracts.  The Knicks have Dan Dickau's and Fred Jones' expiring contracts to include but this could not happen until August 28.

"Artest would love to be in New York, Sacramento would love to move him and the Knicks would love to have him. When you have three parties who want something, I have to believe -- much like the Minny/Boston/KG situation -- it's going to get done," said Bucher.