Nothing happened for the Knicks today in the expansion draft held for the benefit of the Charlotte Bobcats.  The Knicks tried to get the Bobcats to select Antoine Walker and trade him to them for favorable contracts but that did not happen.

And nothing much is likely to happen when they pick 43rd in the rookie Draft.

"We did our homework early, assessed the draft," Thomas said. "That's why we gave up the first-round pick to get [Stephon] Marbury to get out of the draft."

The Knicks' situation makes it hard for them to get into the big-name sweepstakes.

"Unfortunately for us, we inherited a situation where you just don't have the flexibility to go out on the market and play for these type of guys," Thomas said.

"There are a lot of guys who want to come and play in New York, but the way things are cap-wise, we're in a tough, inflexible situation. We just have to find unconventional ways and depend on players we have and try to make them better. We're waiting for Santa Claus to come."

The Knicks will ask the Cuban Santa Claus to deal them Antoine Walker directly.  Kurt Thomas is a Don Nelson favorite and would give the Mavericks more frontcourt depth and rebounding.  That type of deal could materialize.

On Allan Houston, the news is good.  "Allan's feeling very good and looking very good," said Thomas, who watched him work out.