Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune reports: The New York newspapers are all atwitter about the Knicks trying to acquire Seattle SuperSonics rejuvenated power forward Vin Baker.

Whether it is fact, fiction or wishful thinking, almost every paper in the metropolitan New York area said the Knicks were rebuffed when they offered Charlie Ward, Travis Knight and Othella Harrington - following up on a Boston Globe report Sunday.

Now, the Gotham papers are speculating the Knicks' desperation for an interior presence is going to force general manager Scott Layden to include Latrell Sprewell in any offer to Seattle since Sprewell is the only tradable asset the Knicks have.

Baker said before Tuesday night's game that he had not heard about the rumors, but he did not exactly give Seattle a heartfelt endorsement.

"I'm basically happy here," Baker said. "Things are going well here. Obviously, you always have the idea of wanting to go home. New York is right down the street from my friends and family, so it's always in the back of your mind. But things are going well here."