Samuel Dalembert will be a free agent this offseason and the Kings are hoping to re-sign the center.

Dalembert is also expected to receive interest from the Knicks, Heat, Raptors and Rockets.

Dalembert was acquired during the 2010 offseason from the 76ers.

Carmelo Anthony is suffering from elbow bursitis, a condition he had earlier last season in Denver.

It flared up with the Knicks in late February when he talked about the possibility of having a drainage procedure but added he "doesn't like going under the knife."

After his second game as a Knick on Feb. 25 in Cleveland, Anthony said his right elbow felt numb in the fourth quarter.

"When I shoot it's hard for me to follow through after a shot, it's just painful," Anthony said.

Anthony proceeded to wear a shooting sleeve the following game and donned one off and on the rest of the season.

With superstars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire signed to long-term deals, Chauncey Billups wants the Knicks to set about filling in the holes on their roster.

“I think that in any situation you got to get a team,’’ Billups said. “It’s not about names, how many people on your team can make the All-Star Game. It’s not about that at all. It’s about putting the right pieces together. You got to have a cohesive unit. You got to have guys that know to play off of one another, guys that are going to be unselfish on both ends of the floor. Those are things that win championships, and we’ve seen that clear as day in the Finals.

“We got two of the biggest names in basketball already (in Anthony and Stoudemire)," Billups said. "It’s not about that. It’s about getting somebody that can play with the talent that you have… You look at the Mavericks, and they just share the basketball every time down the floor… Dirk is one of the best the game has ever seen. But he couldn’t do it by himself… So it’s all about the team.

“We need a lot,’’ said Billups. “We got (six) free agents…. We need a lot of stuff. That’s why the front office gets paid the big bucks. It’s their job to do it. It’s our job to execute.’’

The New York Knicks announced that the team has extended a qualifying offer to forward Derrick Brown, making him a restricted free agent. The qualifying offer allows the Knicks to match any offer he receives from another team.
 
Brown, 6-8, 220-pounds, averaged 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in eight games for the Knicks during the 2010-11 season after being claimed off waivers on March 1, 2011. The Dayton, OH native was originally selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the second round (40th overall) of 2009 NBA Draft after a three-year playing career at Xavier University.

According to a team source, the Knicks intend to make a run at reacquiring Kurt Thomas this summer, or whenever the expected NBA lockout ends. The veteran power forward is a free agent who spent last season with the Chicago Bulls and has made it clear that he wants to play at least one more season.

Thomas will likely decide between the Knicks and Bulls, although he remains hopeful that his hometown Dallas Mavericks will reach out to him as well. Thomas attended all three NBA Finals games in Dallas.

"I'm working out and staying in shape," Thomas, a Knick from 1999-2005, said over the telephone. "I definitely want to play again."

Josh Harrellson might give the Knicks a presence every team needs to advance, especially in the playoffs.

"I'm going to protect my stars," Harrellson said yesterday at halftime of the Liberty's win over the Los Angeles Sparks at the Prudential Center. "Amar'e, Carmelo, if someone's getting rough with them, I'm going to protect them. I'm going to make my presence felt. They'll know I'm there."

Harrellson, the No. 45 overall pick whom the Knicks acquired from the Hornets in a draft-night deal for about $750,000, said he thinks he can have a long NBA career as -- his words -- a garbage man.

Coach Mike D'Antoni raved about Iman Shumpert's shutdown skills, going so far as to say the New York Knicks' first-round pick could stay in front of three of the best players in the world.

"He has the athletic ability to guard a Derrick Rose or a Dwyane Wade or a LeBron James," D'Antoni said Friday.

"He had one of the best workouts that I've seen in a lot of years. He's a little bit of everything. He can play point, he can play the 2, he can guard some 3s. He's an exciting young man. His personality and his ability to work hard are big factors, and we're excited about having him."

Donnie Walsh raved about Iman Shumpert's shooting ability, his defensive abilities and his 40-inch vertical leap Thursday night after the Knicks took the Georgia Tech combo guard with the 17th pick in the draft, passing over Marshon Brooks of Providence, Chris Singleton of Florida State and Kenneth Faried of Morehead State.

"He shot the ball extremely well. His shot's not broke. Some guys you see, and you can tell right away they can't shoot and they're going to have to learn form. He has good form, he was hitting shots, he can defend very well. Very well. And he's got tremendously long arms, so I really liked him a lot," Walsh said.

Walsh said the Knicks had one trade in the works that would have allowed them to move up, but the team they were talking to ended up having the opportunity to draft the player they wanted.

Carmelo Anthony's draft philosophy is simple and precise: draft the best available player from Baltimore.

Anthony has made it clear to the Knicks that he'd love for the club to draft one of his Baltimore pals, Josh Selby, a 6-3 combo guard out of Kansas. Selby is all but certain to be available when the Knicks, who own the 17th pick in Thursday's NBA draft, make their selection.

The question is whether the Knicks will take a chance on Selby at 17 or trade for a late first-round pick or a second-rounder with the hope that Selby would still be available.

Jimmer Fredette was a guest on the Dan Patrick Show this morning.

Fredette said the Knicks and the Jazz were 1A and 1B on his list of preferred teams.

Patrick asked him which was 1A.

Fredette said the Knicks.