Widely regarded around the league as a top talent evaluator and without any official title, Brendan Suhr could have as much to do with upgrading the Knicks' roster in the coming months and years as anyone in the front office. Just as Dave Checketts had Ernie Grunfeld, and Jerry West had Mitch Kupchak, the guy behind the guy in New York is Suhr.

"I think he's an amazing hire for the Knicks," says new Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "He's been around a lot of good coaches and has been able to sit back and evaluate talent. He is one of the smartest minds in our game.

"He knows how to be a GM and he knows coaching. Brendan is great to bounce ideas off of. I used him last year at times. That to me is his strength. In that role he'll be perfect."

One Western Conference executive took it a step further, calling Suhr the best personnel move that Thomas, the Knicks' president, has made next to acquiring Stephon Marbury.

"He knows how to build a team," says the executive. "Look at what he did in Detroit."

League officials have leaked that Knicks team President Isiah Thomas is shopping Kurt around the league and has already had discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers about acquiring forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Due to an $8 million difference in salaries, the Knicks are looking to package in Moochie Norris and Othella Harrington.

On the other hand, Portland is also talking to New Jersey about Kerry Kittles.

Amongst other players Thomas is shopping are Dikembe Mutombo and Shandon Anderson.

Although the Nets failed to advance to the conference finals after two straight appearances in the Finals, they raised ticket prices while at the same time making it far more reasonable for non-millionaires to attend games.

Seats priced over $275 increased by 6.5 percent as the average ticket price went from $70.74 to $75.31. The team also established 3,000 "Screecher Seats," in the upper level, priced at $15. Also, the Nets will offer a limited number of $10 seats per game.

"We want to increase our loyal fan base by offering more reasonably priced tickets," said Nets CEO Rod Thorn. "At the same time, due to the economics of doing business in the NBA, we will be forced to raise certain ticket prices for the first time in two years."

Most lower level seats will rise $125 to $150, with a limited number at $170. Seats priced at $75 last season will jump to $80, with others priced at $100.

"Last year we fell apart, so it came down to this might not work and we decided we probably have to change," said
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh about the decision to fire Isiah Thomas as head coach.

"We had young players and you have to keep them. Most of the time the coach is out.?

The Pacers lost in the first round three straight years but new coach Rick Carlisle is close to taking the same team minus All-Star center Brad Miller to Indiana's second Finals in five years.

To Thomas? assertion that he would have been fired even if he had won the championship: "Well, that's not true," Walsh said. "When teams fall apart, you have to make a change. A new coach came in and started things off in a different light. I didn't know if Isiah came back if we could've come back as a team."

Mehmet Okur wants to remain in Detroit but the 7-foot restricted free agent had a lot of good things to say about New York.

"It's a great, beautiful city," Okur, who returns to his native Turkey each summer, said before last night's Game 2.

"There's a lot of Turkish people who live there, especially in New Jersey. But I want to stay here first. If not, there will be other teams."

Okur's future with the Pistons is not clear.  Coach Larry Brown has not given him consistent minutes.  

The Knicks are expected to pursue Okur and can offer him the mid-level exception for a six-year deal starting at $5 million.  

The Pistons would not be likely to match.  They are expected to do all it takes to sign Rasheed Wallace in the off-season.