According to Marc Berman, Knicks GM Scott Layden will not join the club on their six-game 11-day Western trip that began last night vs. the Suns. He'll be by his desk at 2 Penn Plaza trying to help the Knicks for the future at Thursday's trading deadline.

Sixers GM Billy King has confirmed he's still interested in Latrell Sprewell, but the Knicks aren't jumping at any Keith Van Horn deal, feeling they need more. If Sprewell does go - and chances are growing slimmer - Layden wants a first-round pick included and the Sixers don't even have one this season. Larry Brown reportedly has Othella Harrington and Charlie Ward on his radar, so a Sixers' deal would probably include multiple parts and teams.

According to a source, Philly is seeing if they can include 7-1 center Stanley Roberts as a throw-in piece in a package via sign-and-trade. The Sixers have until Monday - the end of the 30-day window - to sign him to a contract or he becomes a free agent.

Layden has set his sights higher than Van Horn, notably toward Memphis center Pau Gasol. But getting Gasol seems a huge longshot. Every team is lining up at Memphis' door since word got out Grizzlies GM Jerry West is at least listening to offers for Gasol. Supposedly, West likes Poland's raw and rarely used 7-2 prospect Cezary Trybanski so much, he's exploring a Gasol trade. Layden's edge is he has among the best relationships with West and they talk frequently.

The Grizzlies have looked for a point guard and several teams think the Knicks' second-rounder Milos Vujanic is the real thing. Would a package of Kurt Thomas, Vujanic and the second-round pick they got from Denver - a definite asset the Knicks are shopping - even be enough to pry away last season's Rookie of the Year?