The New York Daily News is reporting that although Carmelo Anthony was back to playing ball on Monday night it is not known what the actual problem with his knee is. It is also reported that it is not known how long he will be back playing for as his knee problems which include swelling, stiffness and fluid building up in the knee could come back at any time.
Speaking of knee problems, Andrew Bynum of the Philadelphia 76ers is having his own set of problems with his knees. USA Today notes that he is at present looking into arthroscopic surgery and it is also noted that because he does not want to play in pain he may not be able to return to the 76ers lineup this season.

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The reasons are partly because of their awkward mix of contracts and partly because the franchise feels it can topple the defending-champion Miami Dream Team without a deadline deal. Nevertheless, that sentiment was put to the test last night when they were humiliated out of the All-Star break in a 125-91 horror show against the Pacers.

“We had early success against Miami,’’ coach Mike Woodson said, whose team whipped the Heat twice by 20 points earlier this season. “That’s all well and good. But when you get in a seven-game series, that’s different. Anything can happen. Injuries can occur, guys can lose confidence. But if we’re healthy, yes, we have an opportunity to beat Miami or anybody in the East.’’

“They’re not even waiting on anything,’’ one person familiar with the Knicks’ thinking told The Post before the massacre. “It’s pretty safe to say they’re not making a deal.’’

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/woodson_we_can_beat_heat_as_is_SqSjXt97O4P7zY43ZfamSN

The Nets’ willingness to a deal centered on forward Kris Humphries, guard MarShon Brooks and a first-round draft pick, but the Celtics want a more substantial package to consider moving Pierce, league sources said.

“The Celtics still highly value Pierce and it wouldn’t make sense to trade him for that kind of a package if they’re keeping Kevin Garnett,” one league source said.

Boston has shown interest in forward Mirza Teletovic and securing another possible first-round pick, but the Nets have shown no inclination to pay that steep of a price for Pierce.

The Nets and Celtics discussed a deal for Pierce at the 2012 trade deadline, but the Celtics decided to keep him for another playoff run. Pierce, 35, is averaging 18 points for the Celtics this season, shooting his worst from the field – 41 percent – in the past eight seasons.

Boston had interest in guard C.J. Watson in a separate deal, but Brooklyn doesn’t want to part with him, sources said.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba–nba-trade-deadline-buzz–clippers-end-kevin-garnett-trade-talks-for-now-030112108.html;_ylt=AwrHgZSKQCRRhH0AUgELcykA;_ylu=X3oDMTFoZnA0Y2I3BG1pdANCbG9nIEluZGV4IGJ5IEF1dGhvcgRwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCbG9nSW5kZXg-;_ylg=X3oDMTFrODdzYXZuBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANhdXRob3IEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-07-21/news/32779785_1_jeremy-lin-linsanity-rockets/4

Mason, vice president of the Players Association, has rubbed shoulders with the Knicks owner countless times this summer and fall in Manhattan hotel board rooms instead of the team’s plush practice facility.

"You can look at it and say the majority of owners don’t want a deal,"
Mason told The Post yesterday from his Los Angeles home. "But there are
owners eager to get a deal done. At this moment they are overshadowed by
a contingent of owners who are trying to get everything they want in a
new CBA."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/jim_dandy_u61PAJQxQdV85a1bOMaVwJ#ixzz1bld6Hf4p

Yet, he’s precisely what the Knicks need.

According to a team source, the Knicks intend to make a run at
reacquiring Thomas this summer, or whenever the expected NBA lockout
ends. The veteran power forward is a free agent who spent last season
with the Chicago Bulls and has made it clear that he wants to play at
least one more season.

Thomas will likely decide between the Knicks and Bulls, although he remains hopeful that his hometown Dallas Mavericks will reach out to him as well. Thomas attended all three NBA Finals games in Dallas.

"I’m working out and staying in shape," Thomas, a Knick from 1999-2005, said over the telephone. "I definitely want to play again."

Thomas, who will turn 39 in October, has replaced the recently retired Shaquille O’Neal as the NBA’s oldest player. However, unlike Shaq, Thomas has proven that he can stay healthy and be productive.

Thomas appeared in 52 games and made 32 starts last season for a Bulls team that won a league-high 62 games. He was signed as insurance for Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer and ended up being a vital player for Chicago when the Bulls’ starting center and starting power forward, respectively, both missed significant time due to injury.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2011/06/28/2011-06-28_new_york_knicks_plan_to_make_effort_at_reacquiring_veteran_kurt_thomas_the_nbas_.html

Jackson, who is still best friends with Bill Bradley, interviewed with Isiah Thomas for
the position in 2005 but passed, instead rejoining the Lakers. In 1999,
Jackson met wtih former Garden President Dave Checketts.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh is committed to coach Mike D’Antoni through
next season, when his contract expires. If a bored Jackson makes
himself a free agent, the Knicks would be a strong candidate, especially
since Dolan would be the likeliest owner to lavish Jackson with a
massive contract.

According to a league source, health likely
won’t prevent the 65-year-old Jackson from making a comeback in 2012-13
after taking a season off, though he has entertained the idea in the
past of having a co-coach to make things easier.

The source said
Jackson’s hips are no longer an issue and he is considering
knee-replacement surgery and a weight-loss program this summer to
alleviate problems with his knees.

Walsh, who is in talks with Garden chairman James Dolan about a
contract extension, announced Wednesday that the club is picking up the
option year on Billups’ deal, worth $14.2 million. The Knicks had until
Friday to decide whether to keep Billups or buy out his contract for
approximately $4 million. The Daily News reported in February that
Billups had received a verbal guarantee from the organization that it
would keep him.

"We have made a decision to keep Chauncey Billups for the upcoming
2011-12 season," Walsh, the Knicks president, said in a statement
Wednesday. "Chauncey, Amar’e (Stoudemire) and Carmelo (Anthony) are a
great nucleus, as we continue to look to improve our team going into the
offseason. Chauncey is an extremely talented and experienced point
guard – we are very happy to have him back."

Billups, who turns 35 in September, was inconsistent after arriving
in New York via Denver in the Anthony trade. He never fully recovered
from a deep thigh bruise in early March and was forced to sit out the
final three games of Boston’s first-round sweep after hurting his left
knee in the final minutes of Game 1.