Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports that Wally Szczerbiak could be traded to the Knicks this summer. Szczerbiak?s father revealed that the Timberwolves would be willing to trade his son.  "I think there is a small chance that he could be traded," said Walter Szczerbiak. "At least that is the speculation I get from (Timberwolves vice president) Kevin McHale. "If they feel they're getting a player in return who fits into what they're trying to do, they won't hesitate to pull the trigger."

Wally has been mentioned in many trade rumors because of his reported differences with Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett and because of his contract situation. He will be a free agent next season and wants an extension before that happens. The Timberwolves are unwilling to offer him a $90 million deal, but Szczerbiak will not demand the maximum. However, like any player, "he wants the team to show appreciation for the fact he's been doing the right things.? According to Walter.

Isola writes that the latest trade rumor is a three-weay deal between the ?Wolves, Knicks and Pistons. Szczerbiak would go to the Knicks while Latrell Sprewell would end up in Detroit. The Timberwolves would get Jerry Stackhouse from the Pistons. Other players would have to be involved to make the cap numbers work.

The Associated Press reports that the NBA has announced their salary cap figures for the upcoming season. For the first time since the salary cap has been introduced, it will actually decrease in 2002-03. Last season?s cap was set at $42.5 million. This season?s cap will dip to $40.271 million.

The NBA also announced on Tuesday that the mid-level exception that teams can offer free agents is only going up from $4.538 million to $4.545 million. Media speculation originally placed the value in the $4.6 to $4.8 million range. This will mean less money for free agents like Chauncey Billups as this exception is the main means of adding players to a capped-out team.

The Luxury tax, which kept several teams from signing players last summer, will not be levied in part, due to the reduced spending of the owners. As a result, a small amount of the Escrow money taken from the player?s paychecks during the season will be returned to the players. The tax is expected to become reality next summer because of the increasing salaries of older, long-term contracts.

The minimum cap has been set at $30.2 million.

Minnesota Timberwolves VP Kevin McHale predicts this years? free agency period will be slow. Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune reports that McHale and the Wolves will be cautious this summer with their money.

McHale said Monday he doesn't expect much news to circulate out of Target Center this week and predicted that only a few signings will take place this week as teams, worried about the oncoming luxury tax, will take a more conservative approach in negotiations.

?The economics of the game have changed, and the hardest thing to do is to get the players and the agents to understand that," said McHale. "My portfolio was a lot better before the market went to hell, but it is what it is."

The Wolves expect to take a hit on Wednesday when their free agent point guard, Chauncey Billups, will be free to sign a reported 6-year, $35 million contract with the Pistons. "I talked to his agent a couple of times, and I think Chauncey feels pretty comfortable with Detroit," McHale said.

A minor move may take place this week to help fill the void at point guard after Billups? departure. It appears as if the Wolves are set to sign Khalid El-Amin to add depth to ther backcourt. McHale said they will scour the summer leagues looking for players that can contribute. "We would like to find a guy with some experience," he said.

The Wolves plan on waiting out the initial wave of signings to get some better free agent bargains. Usually after the first initial signings, things start drying up a little bit," McHale said. "All of sudden everybody gets a little bit more reasonable. It's a lot easier to deal with everybody then."

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that the Pistons may have gotten their man. Andy Miller, representative of free-agent point guard Chauncey Billups, told the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday that Billups would not return.

After option out of his contract, Billups met with the Pistons last week. It is now expected that Billups will sign a 6-year, $35 million contract on July 16th. When asked if the Timberwolves made a counteroffer, Miller said, "I was not looking for a counter."

"I am not going to discuss anything about a deal, but I will say Chauncey's visit with Detroit was productive and he felt very comfortable with Detroit," Miller said. "Chauncey went into this with a very definite set of criteria for both himself and the teams that were interested in him. Thus far, Detroit is filling each one of his criteria very comfortably. The process is going along very smoothly."

What Billups is looking for is a chance to start on a playoff contending team and a place to settle down after playing for 5 teams in 5 years. The Pistons appear to be a perfect fit. Miller said Billups would not be visiting any other teams.

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that Chauncey Billups likes Detroit? and the Pistons like him too. The Pistons are looking for a big point guard that can score and pass. Billups is looking for the opportunity to start in the NBA. While it may seem like a match made in heaven, there may be a problem.

There are still 10 days remaining before free agents are allowed to sign contracts and in those 10 days, Billups will be courted by as many as 14 other teams.

Pistons GM Joe Dumars was happy to show Billups around the facilities during this weekend?s visit. "We are really happy we were able to get him in here first," said Dumars, "We really like his size and his composure. He never seems to be out of control on the floor. He is a big point guard who can really defend on the perimeter."

"He's kind of in the same mold as Chucky (Atkins), Ben (Wallace) and Corliss (Williamson)," Dumars said. "He's a young guy, 25, who hasn't really busted out yet, but you get the feeling that he is about to. He's right there."

Money is not expected to be a factor. All of the teams that are courting him are offering the same starting salary -- the $4.7-million mid-level exception. Most teams will be willing to give Billups a minimum of four years. But Billups is looking for a place to settle down. After playing for 5 teams in 5 seasons, he wants to be comfortable.

"I am looking for a place where I will be comfortable, where I can gain some stability both with the team and the community," Billups said. "I feel comfortable with Joe and this organization and with where the team is headed."

"It's going to come down to where I feel most comfortable," Billups said. "I am not going to rush this."

Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press reports: Free-agent point guard Chauncey Billups will visit the Pistons this weekend as the team attempts to improve at the position.

Travis Best and Jeff McInnis are the other two point guards Detroit would like to talk with during free-agent negotiating, team president Joe Dumars said.

Billups, 25, is expected to be in town this afternoon and stay until Sunday, according to one of his representatives.

Free agents can begin signing contracts on July 16th.

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports: On Tuesday, President Joe Dumars introduced the Pistons' first-round draft pick, Tayshaun Prince, to the local media.

In two weeks, he hopes to introduce a new point guard.

Dumars said Tuesday he has made preliminary contact with the representatives of free agent point guards Jeff McInnis (Clippers), Travis Best (Bulls) and Chauncey Billups (Timberwolves).

He hopes to bring at least one of them in for an interview -- McInnis would most likely be first -- this weekend.

"We have a specific area we are targeting in free agency," Dumars said. "I think everybody is well aware that we are looking for a point guard to help Chucky (Atkins, last year's starter)."

Dumars said there are eight to 12 teams vying for each of the three point guards, and every team is offering the same basic financial package -- the $4.6 million mid-level salary cap exception.

"Because the money is the same, it really comes down to intangibles," Dumars said. "It comes down to where they want to play. It comes down to playing time, will they be able to start. It comes down to the direction the team is heading, is it winning or losing, does he fit in with the coach and the system -- those kinds of things."

The Pistons, coming off a 50-win season, have some intangibles in their favor with two of the players. McInnis played in the same backcourt with Jerry Stackhouse at North Carolina, and the two are long-time friends. Best played for three seasons under Coach Rick Carlisle's offensive system in Indiana.

"This is really all we are focusing on in free agency," Dumars said. "You aren't going to see a big cast of guys coming through here. This is just a small group we have zeroed in on."