After the Crawford talks look to be on hold, Knick president Isiah Thomas has spoken on the phone with Erick Dampier and is currently Oakland-bound for a recruiting visit.

With the Heat finally landing Shaquille O'Neal yesterday, Thomas would love to add the 7-foot-1 Dampier, a center he tried to acquire at last February's trading deadline.

He's also chasing Maverick power forward Antoine Walker, who Dallas owner Mark Cuban has shopped after leaving unprotected in the expansion draft.

Thomas' initial bid at Dampier when the July 1 courting period began was deemed as a longshot, with Memphis the favorite. Once the Warriors signed center Adonal Foyle to a six-year, $40 million deal, Warrior GM Chris Mullin no longer had interest in re-signing Dampier for anything more than the $4.9 million mid-level exception.