CHANEY STILL LIKES VAN HORN
By MARC BERMAN
July 19, 2003 -- BOSTON - During training camp last October, Knicks coach Don Chaney privately wondered if the Nets would regret getting rid of Keith Van Horn. When the Nets fell in the Finals to San Antonio, partly because they didn't have enough perimeter shooters, Van Horn's absence was felt.
Yes, Chaney has always been a Van Horn fan, which means he's in the minority. When talks broke down at last season's trading deadline between the Knicks and Sixers, Philadelphia coach Larry Brown decided Latrell Sprewell wouldn't be the answer in exchange for Van Horn. Brown is coaching in Detroit now.
The Knicks never lost interest in Van Horn and are still trying to make a deal. The Knicks' top priority is a center, but they also want to get bigger at small forward and have spoken to the Pacers about Al Harrington, with Indiana desperate for a point guard. The Knicks have asked about San Antonio's Manu Ginobili, but several Spurs sources said he's an untouchable.
The Sixers, who just lost free-agent power forward Brian Skinner, want rugged Kurt Thomas, but GM Billy King said the Knicks haven't offered him up. The Knicks can't give away their starting center, unless the package also includes another pivot. A third team likely will be needed to make a deal work.
With Skinner gone, could King actually have some interest in bringing Clarence Weatherspoon back to Philly? Because 7-foot draft pick Maciej Lampe is not signed, he could be included in deals, though the Knicks should realize that won't go over well with their fans.
"I hope something can be worked out," Chaney told The Post after watching the Nets defeat the Knicks' summer league team 80-66 at U-Mass-Boston.
"I've always liked [Van Horn]," Chaney said. "A lot of people are highly critical of him. I like the way he plays. He gives you a different look on things. He's a great offensive rebounder and hits the open shots. He creates situations. A lot of people dwell on the negatives."
The Knicks are still shopping for a center and have Elden Campbell, 34, on their board. Theo Ratliff has been targeted in a trade, and GM Scott Layden has always liked Dallas' Raef LaFrentz and Shawn Bradley.
* Center Slavko Vranes made two nice 8-foot turnarounds yesterday. He finished with nine points, making 4-of-5 shots and hauling in five rebounds . . . Mike Sweetney finished with 17 points, with three 15-footers. Sweetney got burned by Brian Scalabrine (17 points) on defense . . . Lampe scored seven points on 3-of-8 shooting but had one marvelous running-hook drive through the lane . . . The Knicks' summer leaguers finish the Boston schedule today at 11 a.m. vs. Philly, then fly to Utah.
What do you think? Discuss it in our forums
All articles are copyrighted by the New York Post
All recaps are copyrighted by Yahoo! Sports
