Dwyane Wade was asked about the possibility of playing with LeBron James in New York on Friday evening.

"It's not crazy," Wade told The Post in the visitor's locker room of Indiana's Conseco Fieldhouse. "It could happen. We both understand that. We both signed the same contract. We did it together. More than anything, it's fun to think about. It's exciting to know we both control our future. Will it happen? Who knows. He has some something he's trying to accomplish in Cleveland. I have something I'm trying to accomplish in Miami. But up until 2010, it will be fun to think about."

Wade did mention that the New York weather is one factor against him signing with the Knicks, citing his love of the Miami sun.

The New Orleans Hornets did not extend a second, 10-day contract to forward/center Anthony Tolliver.

Tolliver's contract came to an end after Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors and he did not travel with the team to San Antonio for Saturday's game.

Andrew Bynum sprained his right knee Saturday as the Lakers were facing the Grizzlies in Memphis.

Kobe Bryant crashed into Bynum at the end of an off-balance drive.

Bynum yelled out immediately after Bryant hit his knee. He stayed down for about two minutes and pounded the court with his fist as trainer Gary Vitti talked to him. It is not the same knee that ended Bynum's 2007-08 season prematurely.

Bynum will have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.

San Antonio Spurs center Ian Mahinmi yesterday underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle. The surgery was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Richard Ferkel.

During the surgery a small piece of avulsed bone was removed from Mahimni's ankle.  During activity, the bone was becoming entrapped in the medial aspect of the ankle, leading to persistent pain.  The surgery revealed no other cartilage defects throughout the ankle or distal tibia.  

Mahinmi originally injured the ankle while working out on 8/4.  He had yet to appear for the Spurs this season due to the injury.

Clippers' coach Mike Dunleavy believes that rookie guard Eric Gordon has become one of the best rookies in the NBA this season.

"He's been great, been terrific for us ....  When you bring somebody new into the league and you're learning, there's all kinds of play sets, defenses and coverages. But you look at his numbers since he's been starting for us, [they] are as good or better than all the other rookies," Dunleavy said.

"The thing that has been really great is he plays both sides of the ball. He's a very good defender. He has played a lot of big-time scorers and done very well for us this year. So we're really pleased with his overall play."

Eddy Curry reportedly asked the Knicks for an $8 million advantage last year to offset his growing financial debt.

New York rejected Curry's proposal, according to a person close to the center, as they believed the amount was excessive.

The same source indicated that the Knicks advanced Curry approximately $2 million, which is commonplace as long as the player is guaranteed to make double that amount on his existing contract.

Shaquille O'Neal is now saying that the feud between himself and Kobe Bryant during their time in Los Angeles was simply a marketing gimmick.

"We helped you hype it up," O'Neal said in an interview with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. "I know what I'm doing, brother. I'm the smartest player in the world."

Bryant and O'Neal have bickered publicly since they jostled for position as the Lakers' franchise player in 2004.

"I always did love Kobe," O'Neal said. "It was all marketing."

Bulls' chairman Jerry Reinsdorf believes that the team has been a failure so far this season.

"You want the grade up 'til today?" Reinsdorf said. "What's the lowest grade you can give? This has been a disaster. It's embarrassing. But it will get better."

Coach Vinny Del Negro took the comments in full stride prior to the team's win over the Kings on Friday night.

"Managing expectations is the hardest thing in this business," Del Negro said. "They didn't win 60 games last year. They didn't have a rookie point guard. They didn't have the injuries we've had."

The NBA league office turned down the Knicks' application for a disabled player exception for Cuttino Mobley.

The league determined that the heart condition that forced Mobley to retire was a pre-existing condition.

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have recalled Malik Hairston from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League (D-League).  

Hairston is currently the fifth leading scorer in the D-League with 21.1 points per game.  In 23 games for the Toros this season he has also averaged 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 40.6 minutes. Hairston was named D-League Performer of the Week on 12/22 after helping lead the Toros to three straight wins while averaging 24.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.