Knicks stand pat at NBA trading deadline

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Donnie Walsh didn't make any new trades Thursday before the 3 p.m. deadline.

"We've traded enough, I think," the Knicks' president said about 90 minutes before the deadline and about 30 minutes after watching Carmelo Anthony go through practice with his new teammates.

Walsh pulled off the biggest trade of his Knicks tenure Monday night when he acquired Anthony to team with Amar'e Stoudemire. It worked pretty well Wednesday night as Anthony scored 27 points in a victorious debut.

Walsh would have liked to have added a big man Thursday and had conversations with several general managers.

"We didn't really get the kind of player we wanted [in trade offers]," Walsh said. "We want to look and see what we can come up with without a trade. So we'll continue to look at people on the waiver wires and that kind of thing and basically to see if there's another option, somebody that's not in the NBA.''

A source told Newsday that upon completion of a buyout with the Rockets that could come as early as Friday, 6-11 forward Jared Jeffries will return to the Knicks on a minimum contract once he clears waivers. The Knicks' coaching staff loves Jeffries for his defense and versatility.

Some other options from inside the NBA and out:

Troy Murphy, another 6-11 forward, is expected to be bought out by Golden State after being traded from the Nets. Murphy is looking at Orlando, Miami and Boston.

7-foot center Earl Barron, who played well in a short stint with the Knicks at the end of last season, is a free agent.

Point guard T.J. Ford is expected to be bought out by Indiana and could be a fit as a backup to Chauncey Billups.

As for Walsh's status, the soon-to-be 70-year-old said he was "surprised" that team owner James Dolan addressed his contract situation at the Anthony news conference Wednesday. Dolan said he and Walsh will "sit down" and talk about it after the trade deadline.

"I didn't know he was going to say anything about that," Walsh said. "But it was the truth. That's what he's told me all along. I'm not thinking about it at all."

Walsh's contract ends June 30; there is a team option for 2011-12. When asked if the decision has to be made before June 30, Walsh said: "No decision. He either picks up something or he doesn't pick up something . . . And even that doesn't cut out doing another deal. There are a lot of options. I'm not saying that's what he's doing."

Walsh, whose birthday is Tuesday, said the contract isn't an issue for him. "It's what he has basically told me - that we would talk about all of this after the trading deadline," he said. "I have no problem with that. I never have. Again, I'll say it again, it seems to be a bigger issue with you guys [reporters] than it does with me."

With Alan Hahn

and Kimberley A. MartinThe Dolan family owns

controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.