There was a great deal of suspicion Isiah Thomas would do something to overshadow the headlines generated in court over the last three weeks. Don’t get too excited, this is not it. He completed a deal to acquire the draft rights to Jared Jordan from the Los Angeles Clippers this afternoon for cash considerations.

No roster space was created, but the deal isn’t likely to add to the problem, either.

Negotiations to buy out Dan Dickau are nearly complete. The situation is expected to be resolved tomorrow before Media Day, leaving the Knicks with 17 players in training camp hoping to lock up a spot.

Jordan was selected 45th overall by the Clippers in June.

He will sign a contract here tomorrow, but it’s likely a make-good arrangement. The 22-year-old point guard played at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, and I’ve seen him a couple of times. He was always in complete command of the offense, but has to be considered a project.

Jordan averaged 17.2 points and 8.7 assists last season. In five summer-league starts with the Clippers in Las Vegas, he averaged 4.2 points and 4.8 assists. Jordan probably shoots a little better than Mardy Collins, but he’s not as strong a penetrator and lacks the same defensive skills.

It’s going to be an upset if the depth chart needs to be altered in the coming weeks because of this acquisition.

Traditionally, it’s a busy weekend for general managers around the league.

Every single team needs something before heading off to camp. It’s much easier to settle into a routine a month before it really matters, so the phones are getting a preseason workout. Since they are coming in with 16 players under contract and Demetris Nichols waiting for something to sign, the Knicks will need to make a couple of people disappear.

You make the call.

Should the Knicks open the checkbook and lose the dead weight? It’s not going to be easy to decide who needs to move on. Dan Dickau? Jerome James? Fred Jones? Malik Rose? Jared Jeffries? I can see all of them playing some kind of role here this season.

Maybe they should go after some of the impact players who keep popping up in trade rumors. Shawn Marion? Ron Artest? Andrei Kirilenko? None of those deals will be completed without parting with a piece of the future. Opposing teams believe David Lee and Renaldo Balkman are valuable role players.

Let me know.

• Unless the jury can wrap things up in a hurry on Monday, we probably won’t see Knicks coach Isiah Thomas at Media Day, and I’m pretty sure the organization is very pleased with that little twist. With the focus shifting back to basketball, I’m certain nobody wanted to face leftover questions from the sexual harassment trial. He will join the players in Charleston, S.C. very soon after this mess concludes. Until then, I’m pretty sure the Knicks have enough coaches in place to blow whistles and run drills. It’s not like there’s a lot to learn.

• Somebody told me Renaldo Balkman was hosting a cookout today with a D.J. and everything. Did you get invited?

• It sounds like Allan Houston is going to sit and wait for somebody to offer up a guaranteed roster spot. He doesn’t need to be in a hurry. Who knows, maybe the Knicks will make a move in the next couple of weeks and decide they’re in a position to contend for an Eastern Conference title right now. I’m guessing that would be the best case scenario for Houston.

Talk about starting the season on the wrong foot.

Renaldo Balkman is already in a walking boot. The energetic forward has what the Knicks are calling a stress reaction and small cartilage injury in his right ankle.

“We performed an MRI that located a stress reaction and injured cartilage,” director of player care Dr. Lisa Callahan said in a statement. “We will re-evaluate the healing process after four weeks of rest to decide how much longer it will take for Renaldo to be back on the court.”

In other words, future surgery has not been ruled out.

Now the Knicks are really hoping Quentin Richardson and Jared Jeffries bounce back in a big way.

Apparently, the ankle was becoming more and more of a nuisance recently. Balkman went back to South Carolina last weekend to promote the preseason opener in Columbia, then came home and met with a trainer.  It wouldn’t be reasonable to expect a return before the middle of November because even freak athletes like Balkman need a couple of weeks to get back in shape and up to speed.

At last report, every single player on the Knicks roster was in town getting ready for training camp. There are just five more days until double sessions get underway at the College of Charleston.

In the mean time, players are getting settled in. They work out at the MSG training center. They hang out and catch up with each other. They undergo routine physicals. They spend extra time with family and friends. When the door swings open on Monday at 12:30 p.m. for Media Day, it’s all about basketball.

That almost sounds refreshing.

Anybody who reads the competing Knicks blogs would love Media Day, it’ a circus most years. The competing newspaper writers chase each other around the room for an hour going from player to player, hoping the line of the day winds up in their notebook. It’s not the kind of stuff you learn in journalism school.

There are countless writers from magazines and internet sites looking for headlines, too.

Every television station in the metropolitan era is running around in the gym looking for a playoff guarantee. And there are microphone-toting radio people on hand looking for interesting sound bites.

Most of the players are very accommodating, but they can’t wait to get on the bus and head to the airport. Charleston awaits. It’s among the best cities I’ve ever visited. The players seem to like it because they can walk around without being mobbed. Except for the high-intensity practices, team meetings and seminars, it’s almost like a vacation.

Anyway, let the countdown begin.

There’s likely just one day of testimony left in the explosive sexual harassment trial pitting Knicks president and coach Isiah Thomas against former MSG executive Anucha Browne Sanders. We’ve all seen the headlines, along with every sordid detail that followed. Closing statements will likely take place tomorrow, and then it’s up to the jury.

Really, the outcome of this whole mess will be decided in the court of public opinion. The fans will determine whether this public display of incompetence further damaged a franchise desperate to regain favor in New York after six consecutive losing seasons.

Guilty or not guilty.

I suspect this case will mostly be forgotten if the Knicks contend this season. Most of the incurable faithful really only care about what goes on in between the lines. They learned to love Anthony Mason. They stood and cheered Latrell Sprewell. Both of them played on winning teams.

What happens if the Knicks continue to struggle? Thomas will undoubtedly be reminded of this mistake like all of the others. Will it matter, though? It’s all up to MSG boss James Dolan, who handed Thomas a contract extension last season for spending a grand total of 24 hours in the postseason chase.

So what are you thinking out there?

Nobody sits on the sideline. I want to see a long and intelligent thread on this one. None of us were in the courtroom every day, so let’s avoid guilty or not guilty.

Doe’s any of this really matter once training camp opens next week?

Remember, this story went coast to coast. It’s been leading off the local news for a week. When people who don’t follow the game see it getting that much play, they form quick opinions.

So, were you upset to hear Thomas’ alleged indifference to the ticket-buying corporate set?

Did you at least do a double take when he noted in a deposition there was a perceived difference between a white man and a black man using the same deragatory term in reference to a black woman?

Were you thankful somebody came into MSG with a win-at-all-costs mentality and kicked aside the barriers allegedly presented by Sanders?

Do you feel the revelation of Stephon Marbury’s marital indescretion reflects poorly on him or the Knicks?

It’s a civil trial, but should Thomas and MSG be found guilty, should he face punitive action from the organization or the league? 

Will you watch fewer games or buy fewer tickets because of the details that came out during the trial?

Get in the game. Start typing. Play fair.

I’m assuming most of you are willing to invest a little time and money in this rebuilding process or you wouldn’t be reading a Knicks blog or five.

So here’s your chance to save a spot at Madison Square Garden.

And really, you need to be there a couple of times each season regardless of how good or bad this group turns out to be. The actual facility is awful, but the atmosphere is unbeatable. I’ve been in every NBA arena and Conseco Fieldhouse sits right on top of my list of great arenas, but it doesn’t have the history or ghosts.

Tickets for the upcoming season at MSG go on sale tomorrow morning. Here’s the official release with all of the particulars:

KNICKS SINGLE-GAME TICKETS GO ON SALE TUESDAY

Single-game tickets to New York Knickerbockers’ 2007-08 regular season home games at Madison Square Garden will go on sale Tuesday, Sep. 25 at 9:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at nyknicks.com, by calling (800) 4NBA-TIX or by visiting The Garden Box Office.

Tickets will be available in various price ranges for all 41 regular season home games, with prices starting as low as $10. In addition fans can choose from a variety of ticket plans including a full 44-game season subscription, a 22-game half-season plan, a 15 game mini-plan or an eight-game micro plan. For more information on ticket plans, call (212) 465-6073 or visit nyknicks.com.

To reach Madison Square Garden event and ticket information, call (212) 465-MSG1. All tickets purchased through Madison Square Garden Box Office or TicketMaster are subject to a facility surcharge of $4.50. TicketMaster purchases are also subject to a service charge.

And here’s the paragraph that is tagged onto every release the Garden generates, just for giggles:

The NBA’s New York Knickerbockers basketball team, entering its 62nd year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns Madison Square Garden, L.P., which includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

• Since training camp is only a week away, we can officially credit Sports Illustrated for writing the first story of the season on Larry Brown unwavering desire to coach again. I’m sure there will be many to come. Brown had several offers to come back, according to his agent. Check out the Philadelphia Inquirer for that story. What are we up to now?

• I forgot to post this item the Knicks passed on last week: David Lee’s number has been retired. Seriously. Chaminade College Preparatory School had a ceremony on Friday for it’s now famous 2001 alumn. There’s no word on whether Mitchell & Ness is considering adding the jersey to its lineup.

During a break in the Rookie Transition Program yesterday, I noticed Randolph Morris reaching for a snack. It sure looks as though he spent a portion of the summer consuming the right kind of calories. He showed up with trophy arms last season, but is clearly more defined in all of the right places.

The baby fat is gone. The extra bulk will help.

“I hope so, I hope so,” Morris said, while “I’ve been working out and taking care of my body.”

He’s going to need the muscle to lean on Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry in practice. 

Wilson Chandler has been training and playing in Atlanta most of the summer, but will soon be settling into a temporary apartment in Westchester until a new condo is built. He’s been stopping in at the MSG Training Center every once in a while, too. Getting some court time with veteran teammates is always helpful.

“They’ve been easing me into things,” Chandler said. “They’ve been telling me kind of what I can expect from Zeke. They’ve been telling me, no matter what, keep playing hard and stay positive because he likes that.”

Chandler only needs to ask Renaldo Balkman for confirmation there.

Demetris Nichols remains in a holding pattern.

While he confirmed there have not been any contract negotiations, it appears the second-rounder with long-distance range will be in training camp with the Knicks.

“I’m definitely going to Charleston,” Nichols said.

And playing a year in Europe is no longer an option?

“Right,” Nichols said. “I’m not even talking about that.”

I’m not sure if the declining production is a result of a bad attitude or a bad knee, and the cost involved seems a bit ridiculous, but Andrei Kirilenko is asking the Utah Jazz for a trade. He did the deed via blog, citing a frayed relationship with coach Jerry Sloan. This guy fills a few of the most glaring needs on the Knicks’ roster. Any takers? Utah will undoubtedly start the discussion by asking for David Lee or Renaldo Balkman.

As for the open practice, the Knicks will be on the court at Hofstra for all to see, but I’m told a date is still being finalized. They appear to be looking at the last two weeks in October.

He’s not late by any means, but Zach Randolph still has not been seen working out with new teammates at the MSG Training Facility.

I spent most of the afternoon sitting in on seminars at the Rookie Transition Program, which is basically four days of high-intensity orientation. The league and players association run the sessions before each season to give newcomers a map to the unexplored universe they are entering.

Here’s the most valuable piece of information they received, compliments of Stu Jackson:

“If there’s an altercation on the court, don’t get off the bench,” the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations said. “Just ask Boris Diaw or Amare Stoudemire.”

The rookie class was very attentive while Ronnie Nunn was talking.

And there were more than a few heads shaking when the league’s director of officiating flat denied the existence of rookie calls, star calls, make-up calls and home cooking. Referees are graded on getting the call right, and he noted that fictional infractions would prevent career advancement.

Nobody giggled out loud.

Either way, Nunn did review the Points of Emphasis for the upcoming season. Here’s the list of what the officials will be concentrating on:

• Block vs. Charge: It always seems to be the hardest call to make, but the refs will be watching the defender a little closer as he moves to establish position.
• Carrying and palming the ball: Jamal Crawford is going to hate this one.
• Jump balls: No more gravity-challenged players will be stealing the ball when it’s still on the way up.
• Trajectory of the defender: Hands in the air. Defenders need to be straight up and down if contact is made when a shot goes up.
• Traveling: Skipping is not legal, and questionable pivots will draw a whistle.

Nunn also reminded the rookies about the Respect for the Game technicals officials were blowing every time a call drew a cross-eyed look last season. They are all still in effect.

Heat of the moment expressions will be tolerated as long as there is nothing directed at the refs and the player gets right back into the flow of the game.

“After that little whatever, you need to get into the wind,� Nunn said with a sly grin.

Jackson also indicated constant complainers will again be picking up more technicals. That’s a note David Lee and Nate Robinson need to remember. Both seem to believe a quick negotiation will make the problem go away.

The Knicks were again well represented with Wilson Chandler, Randolph Morris and Demetris Nichols in attendence. I spoke with all of them. You’ll have to wait, though, because I’m tired.

Check back with me tomorrow.

I will say this, Morris seems to have lost the baby fat. He is darn near chiseled now.

Sleep tight.

Apparently, even the judge is tired of hearing about the nonsense that allegedly went on behind the scenes at Madison Square Garden while Anucha Brown and Isiah Thomas were in the midst of a classic power struggle.

Check out this excerpt from the Associated Press:

” … After the jury of five women and three men left the courtroom, U.S. District Judge Gerard Lynch expressed exasperation that the case it taking longer than non-celebrity trials and asked the lawyers to speed things up. ‘I saw one juror nodding off this morning,’ the judge said.”

Nice.

Maybe they need to bring Stephon Marbury back for more tabloid details. Or a song.

This whole finger-pointing mess is making everyone involved look bad. And with that in mind, it probably wouldn’t hurt the blushing organization to put a new face on the franchise.

Regardless of the verdict, Marbury and Thomas need to lay low.

I vote for Eddy Curry, who’s been touted as the cornerstone of the franchise anyway. While the developing big man admittedly has a few issues to address in between the lines, he’s money with the media and the general public.

Curry is easy to like.

He rarely leaves a question unanswered. And the honesty is refreshing. Curry usually signs anything, even while he’s standing in the locker room in boxer shorts diffusing what could’ve been a very awkward moment. The smile is genuine. He seems more comfortable in the spotlight with each passing day.

Anybody have a better idea?

There are several good guys on the roster, but nobody else plays as big a role, so I think we need to see more of Curry this season. He’d look great on the cover of the media guide and in whatever marketing campaign the Knicks roll out to improve their season ticket base.

Heck, why not make the centerpiece a captain so he can really start throwing his weight around?

• The NBA reinstated veteran referee Joey Crawford today, which ups the league’s entertainment value. I’m all for characters blowing whistles and needling Tim Duncan, who is known to complain a little too much for somebody who ranks among the privileged few.

• My favorite column from the weekend comes from Rick Carpiniello, my Journal News colleague, who knows better than most what goes on in the backrooms at MSG. Take a minute and check it out. Let me know what you think.

(Photo credit: Terrence Vaccaro NBAE/Getty Images)

Are the Knicks ready for Allan Houston?

The persistent rumors indicate at least one party is hoping for a reunion, and there are some benefits to bringing the accomplished veteran back. He will always be a threat. Despite the chronic knee problems in past seasons, there was never a major issue with getting up shots.

Houston is smart enough to be effective on the offensive end for 15-20 minutes.

That being said, is anybody comfortable giving a player whose future is limited court time when it potentially slows the development of younger players like Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols?

Forget the roster size for a minute. Realistically, the Knicks are not going to contend for a championship this season. Eddy Curry is still learning. Zach Randolph just got here. The best-case scenario probably has them at least two years away from being lumped in with the favorites.

Does anyone view Houston as the final piece?

Getting a chance to come back and help the Knicks would be a great story. A positive contribution would certainly lessen the resentment inspired by the $100 million contract, but he’s probably a better fit where one shot could make all the difference.

What are your thoughts?