According to a report in the Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2009/06/07/he_feels_nba_is_within_reach/?page=3), Knicks’ general manager Donnie Walsh is hoping to deal the restricted free agent in a sign-and-trade package this summer to cut the teams salary cap number.

New York has very publicly trimmed salary over the last year in hopes of freeing up enough space to sign a pair of the high-profile free agents next summer. That list includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire.

Lee is coming off of a career year in which he averaged highs in points (16), rebounds (11.7) and assists (2.2) while leading the league in double-doubles and playing in 81 games.

When Walsh took over prior to this season, he said that he was not interested in signing Lee to a contract extension because he wanted to get a closer look at what kind of player he is. That move likely helped Lee, who definitely added a few zeroes to his contract with this season’s play.

Lee has stated repeatedly throughout the last two years that he wants to remain in New York and help turn around a franchise that has been struggling for nearly a decade. It seems, though, that the team may not be able to afford him.

Free agency officially begins July 1. The NBA Draft is June 25.

Brooks logged six points and six rebounds in two combined preseason games after being the team’s third-round pick. She stuggled from the field, though, and had trouble getting in the shooting groove that made her one of Florida’s most prolific all-time scorers.

The announcement came at an awkard time, as Gator coach Amanda Butler was in Phoenix to observe a few Mercury practices. She did the same last season.

Brooks told me prior to the NCAA Tournament that if she couldn’t make it in the WNBA, she would try to make a team overseas.

“I just want to play basketball,” she said. “I don’t care if it’s here, there or anywhere else.”

Just more than three weeks since the injury, which landed him on the 60-day disabled list earlier this month, Ellis is starting to run. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, he was doing sprints at about 70 percent on Friday.

His return in late June could cause a log-jam in the infield.

Ellis’ replacement, Adam Kennedy, has been lights-out since taking over. After 19 games, Kennedy is batting .387 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 75 appearances at the plate. If Kennedy can keep his average above .300 when Ellis returns, it will be hard to sit him.

One option would be to move Ellis the third base, where he played for three years at Florida. But that spot is occupied by another injured player, six-time gold glove winner Eric Chavez. Chavez is also on the 60-day disabled list with a back injury.

For Oakland, a team that has been in a constant state of injury for the first few months of the season, the thinking is that by the time both return, someone else may be injured and need replacement. But if the injury bug stays away, they’ll be left in a situation where they’ll either have to sit a hot player, or force two veterans to share one position.

Ellis, who was batting .206 with no home runs and nine RBIs in 63 at bats before the injury, is signed through next year and could be an interesting piece of trade bait if Oakland decides to go in that direction.

That was the word out of Greece when news broke that Calathes was foregoing the orange and blue of Florida and the green of the NBA for a contract with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos.

The deal, which seemed curious at first, starts to make sense as more details emerge.

The contract, which could be worth up to $2 million a season, is on-par with what a high-lottery pick will receive in the June NBA Draft. Calathes was slated to be a late first-round pick, possibly falling into the second round, where contracts are not guaranteed.

There also seems to be a lot of buzz throughout Greece about the arrival of the Gators’ two-time assist king.

“Nick is the future,” said one fan on the Greek Web site “The Gazzetta.”

“After (former Ohio State and current Utah Jazz center Kosta) Koufos, he is the greatest Greek talent,” said another.

The move to Greece also seems to be improving Calathes’ draft stock this year.

With the crop of talent available for the June 25 selection meetings as thin as it’s been in many years, teams in the lower end of the first round are trying hard to get out of the guaranteed three-year deals given to first-round picks.

“There’s not a lot of long-term talent in that area,” one eastern conference executive said last week. “A lot of teams are trying to sell off those picks. A few teams without a first are interested, but not enough to meet the demand. If you can stash a player overseas for a few years, you can save some money now.”

Calathes is still eligible to be taken in the draft, and some team is likely to grab him in the latter-half of the opening round. By doing that, the team owns his rights until his Greek contract expires. That team can then bring him back to America for an NBA contract if both sides agree.

If Calathes improves enough and wants to take another shot at the NBA, the buyout in the deal is minimal and he can return as early as next year.

ESPN analyst Chad Ford noted this about Calathes in his latest mock draft, projecting him at No. 24 to the Portland Trail Blazers.

ESPN draft analyst Keith Law has revised his list of the top-100 prospects.

Topping the list is Gator pitcher Billy Bullock, ranked No. 29 overall. Bullock’s UF teammate, Matt den Dekker, rounds out of the list at No. 100.

Area high school slugger, and UF commit, LeVon Washington of Buchholz in No. 94 and is predicted by some to be a sleeper pick in the first two rounds. Ocala Forest Right-handed pitcher Keyvius Sampson is listed at No. 59.

The draft kicks off on ESPN, and the Washington Nationals with the first-overall pick are expected to select top pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State.

According to Jeff Dickerson, Chicago Bears blogger for ESPNChicago.com, that could be the case (http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?post=4165252&name=dickerson).

Many forget that through the first half of the 2006 season, Grossman was a leading candidate for league MVP. He was having a record-breaking year before that Monday Night Football collapse-and-comeback against Arizona. That’s when it went downhill for No. 8.

Now, as a free agent and no longer needed in Chicago after the acquisition of SEC-alum Jay Cutler, Grossman seems to be getting no interest on the open market.

“Free agent QB Rex Grossman has been training hard on a daily basis and is looking forward to signing with a team in time for OTA’s,” said a Twitter posting from Drew Rosenhaus, Grossman’s agent.

Dickerson is suggesting that Grossman might have to sit out until training camp begins and a team suffers an injury at the quarterback position. He says at this point, few teams are looking at the former first-rounder as even a third-string or emergency QB.

More Gator-related tidbits from Rosenhaus’ Twitter page:

“Lito Sheppard is starting for the Jets and anticipates having a big season. He likes Coach (Rex) Ryan’s scheme and style. He’s healthy now too.”

“Cornelius Ingram did very well in the Eagles mini-camp and we are confident that the health of his knee is not an issue going forward.”

“I’m also happy to report that (Tampa Bay Buccaneer) Earnest Graham’s ankle is doing great and he has been able to work out at full speed. He is looking good.”

With Matt LaPorta (Cleveland) and Bryan Augenstein (Arizona) called up to the majors in the last month, who will be the next former Gator to make the jump from the minors?

There could be a wait.

The hottest of the crop was Ryan Shealy, playing first base for the Kansas City Triple-A affiliate Omaha Royals in the Pacific Coast League. Shealy was batting .345 with 12 RBI in 25 games, including a 3-for-3 outing with two RBIs and a walk against Nashville on May 8. But since that night he has been out with a swollen knee and missed 12 games.

Ameera Abdullah’s professional soccer career will start in less than a week, but it’s still nearly two months after she once thought it would begin.

Originally drafted by the (Bay Area) FC Gold Pride in the new Women’s Professional Soccer League, Abdullah opted instead to sign a contract with the Buffalo Flash of the U.S. Women’s Soccer League.

Buffalo opens its season May 24 against the Quebec Arsenal.

A few other notes from the WPS:

Former Gator and fellow draftee Megan Kerns was cut by the St. Louis Athletica prior to the start of the season. Washington’s Abby Wambach currently leads the league in shots (25), shots on goal (12) is tied for second in goals (2) and tied for second in assists (2). Another fellow UF alum, Stacey Bishop is also tied with Wambach with two assists.

I recently took my family on vacation to the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina. In the cabin we rented, there was a guest book in which past visitors signed in with the typical name and where they were from. One family, oddly enough from Georgia, signed in with their names as well as the names of their two dogs that traveled with them: Tebow and Percy.

The Gator Nation truly is everywhere.

Calathes was in Reseda, Calif., Monday for a workout in front of a handful of NBA scouts that also included UCLA freshman guard Jrue Holiday, Louisville forward Earl Clark and Washington big man Jon Brockman.

One scout told me that Calathes was “far and away” the most impressive player on the court, showing the court vision and ability to run a team that scouts never seemed to get his grasp of during two years at UF. That’s high praise, considering many analysts are calling Holiday a mid-first round pick.

According to ESPN draft analyst Chad Ford, one league executive said that if Calathes can prove he can defend and hit consistent jumpers, he’ll be a really intriguing player.

Calathes will be back in the Sunshine State today for a workout with Clark and Pittsburgh power forward DeJuan Blair.

* * *

Where have all the Gators gone in the NBA playoffs? With Atlanta’s ouster at the hands of Cleveland earlier this week, sending Al Horford and his sore ankle back to UF for summer school, Houston’s James White becomes the lone former Gator player in championship contention.

I don’t expect that to be the case next year. Horford’s Hawks are still an up-and-coming team, if they can re-sign free-agent-to-be Mike Bibby to run the point. Miami is a piece or two away from returning Udonis Haslem to the big time. Marreese Speights will get his mentor back when Elton Brand returns from a knee injury to lead Philadelphia’s frontcourt. Chicago will be a top-four team in the east next year with Joakim Noah having promised to enter training camp in better shape. And you can never count out the Spurs and Matt Bonner.

This isn’t even including the return of Corey Brewer as well as what could be an interesting un-retirement party for Jason Williams. October can’t get here fast enough.

After three overtimes and 44 minutes on the court, there stood Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, screaming, pounding his chest and … well … being Joakim Noah.

Following the Bulls’ 128-127 triple-overtime victory to tie their first-round series with Boston at three game a piece, Noah found enough energy to make a beeline to the stands, running up and down the sideline slapping hands with every fan, going three rows in to hug strangers and then dropping in a heap on the scorers’ table to rest before a radio interview.

That may be the first time in Noah’s life that he lacked energy.

But how can you blame the second-year pro? In six games against the Celtics, he’s averaging 40 minutes a contest. That’s a far cry from the 22.5 he averaged in each of the 80 regular-season games he participated in.

To put that in perspective, his career high in minutes played at UF was 36. The most he averaged in a Gator season was 25.8 his junior year.

Three months ago, Chicago fans were begging for him to be added to a trade for Phoenix’s Amare Stoudamire. Thursday night they chanted his name like it was tip-off at the O’Dome all over again. In a span of six games, Noah’s gone from a really good college player to a bonified up-and-coming pro.

Sorry Gainesville, it looks like you’re going to have to share one of your favorite sons.

Another NFL Draft is in the books and I have to spend some fextra time in the gym to work off my 13 hours spent on the couch. Surprisingly, only three former Gators were selected. What’s even more surprising is where some went.

News of Percy Harvin’s failed drug test at the league’s Indianapolis scouting combine likely caused a slight slide down draft boards. In the end, he still earned his first-round grade, going No. 22 to Minnesota.

While Harvin likely lost a good chunk of money going from a possible top-12 pick to an early-20s selection, he could make it up on the back end. The Vikings are a great fit, playing in a dome on a fast turf. He won’t have to deal with as many cold northern winters and gets to play with another one of the league’s fastest and most elusive players in Adrian Peterson.

Most with a mock draft, including yours truly, expected the next Gator off of the board to be tight end Cornelius Ingram. The consensus was that his pre-draft workouts had him at least in the back end of the second round.

After that round wrapped up, Ingram was listed as the No. 8 best available player on Mel Kiper’s big board. He was the No. 3 available according to Scouts, Inc.

After the third round, Kiper had him at No. 5. Scouts, Inc. had him at No. 2.

After the fourth round, he was the top available player according to both.

He was eventually taken in the fifth round, No. 153 overall, by Philadelphia.

During the slide, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock reported a few teams that had Ingram in for a workout didn’t give his injured knee a clean bill of health. Some went as far as to say that he may need a second surgical repair, which would cost his rookie season.

Ingram disputes the report and says that when the Eagles hold their first rookie mini-camp this weekend, he’ll be on the field and ready to go.

Philly fans have to be excited about getting a talent like Ingram so late in the draft. He now has a chip on his shoulder and the feeling of something to prove. That could be downright scary.

Wide receiver Louis Murphy leap-frogged Ingram to become the second Gator selected over the weekend when he went in the fourth round, No. 124, to Oakland. For Murphy, his time in the NFL may be predicated more by what he does off of the field than on.

The once-proud Raiders have taken their stadium’s nickname “The Black Hole” to heart. In recent years, great talent has disappeared in a silver-and-black jersey. I remember watching the draft a few years ago, sure that Iowa offensive lineman Robert Gallery would be among the best left tackles in the league within two years. Fast forward a few seasons, and Gallery is now a 6-foot-7, 324-pound mediocre guard.

In that time, owner Al Davis has gone through coaches like underwear and first-round picks like toothpaste.

Two weeks before Chicago traded for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, ESPN analyst Todd McShay said that the receiver-starved Bears would have to “reach” for Darrius Heyward-Bey and take him a little early with their No. 17 pick. Saturday afternoon, Davis proudly plucked Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 choice, despite top receiver Michael Crabtree being available.

JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden, take notice.

If Murphy is to suceed in the league, he’ll have to remain focused despite all that is going on around him at the Oakland circus. There will be losses. There will be coaching changes. There will be frustrated late-night calls to Urban Meyer. But if he can remain unfazed by the experience long enough to make it through his first contract, there may be success, somewhere.

The next surprise came when offensive lineman Jason Watkins went undrafted after being tabbed by many as a potential fifth-round selection Watkins was quickly signed as a free agent by the Houston Texans.

Running back Kestahn Moore signed a free-agent deal with Denver, where he’ll be competing with the Broncos first-round selection, and a familiar face, Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno.

Lineman Phil Trautwein may have ended up with the best free-agent situation, signing with St. Louis. The Rams are reworking their offensive line and looking for contributors to can step in right away. Gone is sure-fire Hall of Famer Orlando Pace (Chicago), in is first-round pick Jason Smith of Baylor. The team is looking for anyone who can help keep quarterback Marc Bulger upright, and Trautwein may just fit the bill. He’s a versatile lineman who can play just about any position on the line. He went up against multiple first-round selection through his practices at Florida and in SEC competition. If he can remain healthy, Trautwein could be a undrafted steal.

At UF’s pro day in March, I asked Trautwein during a Q&A what he would buy with his first NFL paycheck. His response was that he wanted a new car, but “nothing fancy. Maybe something in the $40,000-range.” His car selection may be trimmed down a bit now, as undrafted rookies lucky enough to make an NFL squad make the league-minimum of $310,000. If he finds himself on the inactive list at any point during the year, that number can be cut by more than $100,000. If he makes on a team’s practice squad, he’ll get about $5,000 a week. That’s before Uncle Sam and Uncle Agent get their cut.

While he won’t be trolling around St. Louis in the scooter he became known for throughout Gainesville, the hybrid may have to wait.

Projections show that as many as four Gators will be picked in the seven-round event, which starts Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN. While one notable player is trying to stop his slide out of the first round, a few others are finding their way up in number.

Weeks of rumors were confirmed Wednesday when Fox Sports reported that wide receiver Percy Harvin failed a drug test at the league’s scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Failed drug tests (usually for marijuana) are not uncommon. In recent years, Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson failed a test and was still taken in the top five by the Detroit Lions.

It isn’t the test that troubles teams as much as the decision-making of the player tested. Every player is tested at the combine. Their itineraries tell them the exact hour they will be tested.

That’s part of why Harvin’s stock has been sliding.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay projects Harvin, once a top-15 lock, to be selected at No. 27 to Indianapolis, but admits that the Colts are unlikely to take a player with a possible character problem. If not Indy, Harvin could fall a few more spots to Tennessee. If the Titans pass, he could be waiting well into the second round – possibly to Miami at 44 – to hear his name called. While it would make Dolphins fans pretty happy to have Ted Ginn and Harvin, it certainly won’t please Harvin’s accountants.

* * *

At last month’s pro day held at The Swamp, agent Drew Rosenhaus said his goal was to have his client, former Gator tight end Cornelius Ingram, drafted during the first day (first two rounds). That goal may have to be slightly modified.

No longer hoping to just be taken in the first two rounds, Ingram is now gunning for the top-half of the second round.

Coming off of a knee injury that cost him his entire senior year, Ingram has seen his draft stock go from a third-round prospect, to a top-45 athlete.

McShay has Ingram currently projected to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 53, one slot behind North Carolina receiver Brandon Tate, who, like Harvin, also tested positive for marijuana at the combine.

Scouts, Inc., a branch of ESPN, has Ingram as the No. 2 tight end in the draft, behind Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew.

* * *

After Harvin and Ingram find new homes, it will likely take another 24 hours before another Gator is called.

The third UF player to go should be wide receiver Louis Murphy, who is teetering between the third and fourth rounds.

While McShay currently has Murphy as the top pick in the fourth round, No. 101 to Dallas, he could be an enticing prospect several slots earlier as receiver-starved teams like Chicago (No. 99 overall), Indianapolis (No. 92) and Philadelphia (No. 85) make their choices. Looming nearby is Miami at No. 87. Murphy recently had a private workout with the Dolphins.

* * *

Tackle Jason Watkins is slated as the next to go and could be nabbed in the fifth round.

McShay has him No. 151 to the New York Giants, but others have predicted that he could ride several solid recent workouts to a higher slot.

Watkins measured in at the combine at 6-foot-5 5/8 inches and 318 pounds, which is solid for a tackle. Where he was hurt is during film sessions when several scouts said that he lacks great top-end speed and can be beat by faster ends.

Scouts, Inc., lists Watkins as the No. 13 available tackle.

* * *

That’s where McShay’s mock draft ends, as far as former Gators. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be an orange-and-blue hue to the back end of the draft.

Eighteen slots down the list of available tackles after Watkins is former teammate Phil Trautwein.

While not as talked-about as other tackles or teammates, Trautwein made a name for himself with scouts watching film of available players. Two prior NFL first-round picks at defensive end (Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey) went up against him regularly in practice and each time he was able to hold his own. If not for a history of injuries, Trautwein might find himself taken ahead of Watkins.

One Web site, NFLDraftPost.com, said that Trautwein is “clearly a better tackle prospect” than Watkins. Don’t be too surprised if a team takes a late-round flier on Trautwein.

Some players that aren’t draft get signed quickly by teams looking for free-agent bargains. If Trautwein isn’t taken by the end of the seventh round, he will likely have a tryout contract inked before the end of Sunday night.

* * *

Other former Gators who could get free-agent looks include running back Kestahn Moore, tight end Tate Casey and long-snapper James Smith.