"Knicks prospect Milos Vujanic is leaning toward staying in Italy next year, according to his agent."

For the first time, McDyess gave a specific timetable, saying he's "shooting" for a Monday debut at the Garden vs. the Pistons. He feels he needs just one more 5-on-5 scrimmage - at Sunday's practice - before making his Knick debut. "Hopefully that's the deal," Dice said. "If things go well, I'm ready to roll. I'm right at the edge."

After hearing James Dolan question his character before the season opener, Latrell Sprewell said it confirmed what he already suspected - the Knick owner ran him out of town.

"I just think his comments pretty much prove the fact he had something to do with the trade," Sprewell said before scoring just five points in the T'Wolves' 97-92 loss to the Knicks last night at the Target Center. "He says he didn't have anything to do with it but then he makes comments like that. I don't have anything to prove to him."

Don Chaney will likely be missing Keith Van Horn and possibly sore-backed Allan Houston again when the Knicks face Latrell Sprewell tomorrow in Minnesota. Before last night's win in Boston, Chaney wasn't bashful in speaking on how the Knicks have missed Sprewell, who was traded in the four-team Van Horn deal in July.

"We miss his energy, for sure," Chaney said. "He had great energy. And one thing I know we miss is his passing. He made some great passes. He hit guys who were open. He was a great passer."

Wallace, the Pistons' All-Star power forward, amused the Knicks with his postgame antics late Friday. Wallace, who was upset with Thomas, Charlie Ward and Michael Doleac, stood near the Knicks bus for 10 minutes apparently waiting for Thomas.

Houston, who had played 103 straight games, sat out last night's Garden victory over Philadelphia. He's optimistic that he will be available for the start of the Knicks' three-game trip beginning tomorrow in Boston.

Keith Van Horn missed last night's game with a sprained right ankle and could be sidelined for a week. He's already declared himself out for tomorrow's game in Detroit. The Knicks then play host to Philadelphia on Saturday and are at Boston on Monday.

The Raptors are holding up a deal that would send Morris Peterson and another player to the Knicks for Othella Harrington. Toronto needs an inside scoring presence, while Peterson could be used as either a shooting guard or small forward. Van Horn's injury underscores the Knicks' need to add a proven scorer.

McDyess took part last week in two five-on-five controlled scrimmages, but his first full-contact scrimmage will come today in practice, and his second will be on Thursday before the team's flight to Detroit. Asked if McDyess probably would play against the Pistons, Chaney said, "It could be. It depends on how he plays and how he responds.

"One scrimmage would not be enough; two would be sufficient, but three would give him, not only an opportunity to feel comfortable on the floor, but also an opportunity to feel comfortable with what we're doing."

NEW YORK (AP) Antonio McDyess will take the next step in his recovery from a fractured kneecap Tuesday when he scrimmages five-on-five with the New York Knicks.

Coach Don Chaney ruled out having McDyess play Wednesday night against the Lakers, but he did not completely dismiss the possibility that McDyess might be available Friday against Detroit or Saturday against Philadelphia.

``I want him to get at least a couple of scrimmages in. He hasn't really had a good scrimmage yet running up and down with the team. He needs at least two or three of those,'' Chaney said.

McDyess has undergone two knee surgeries since the Knicks acquired him from Denver in a draft-night trade in 2002.

He fractured his kneecap in his third exhibition game with New York and underwent a second surgery in April after the fracture did not heel properly.

McDyess has been taking part in drills with the team, including two ``controlled scrimmages'' with frequent stoppages of play. Chaney and the Knicks want to see how McDyess' knee responds to a more intense level of competition.

``One scrimmage might be enough, two would sufficient _ but three I think would give him not only an opportunity to feel comfortable but to be comfortable with what we're running,'' Chaney said.

The Knicks brought a record of 2-7 into their game Monday night against Boston.

"Knick owner James Dolan "ordered" the controversial firing of former GM Ernie Grunfeld in 1999, according to a soon-to-be released book."