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Nets owner takes jab at Knicks owner

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov referred to his new cross-town counterpart James Dolan of the Knicks as “that little man” in New York Magazine.

In the article describing the Nets marketing plan and approach to their brand accompanying a move from New Jersey to Brooklyn for the 2012 season, the focus is on whether the Nets can consistently fill the Barclays Center and establish Brooklyn as a glimmering borough of basketball hope.

The article reads: “Prokhorov told me back in December that he plans on attending a quarter of the regular-season games and ‘all the playoff ones.’ He also made sure that I heard him call Dolan ‘that little man.'”

— Reported by The Sports Xchange

Charles Oakley says Knicks must define their roles

Former Knick Charles Oakley says that Carmelo and Co. need to understand where they fit in on the team if they have any hopes of winning a championship this season.

“I think it’s all about how you view your team and everybody knowing what their roles are,” Oakley told The Post. “You look at Miami, the first year together, they made the Finals, but the second year they won it. They had a better understanding of their roles together. I think that’s what the Knicks need to do and players need to understand if they’re the first option, second option or third option. When a team is paying you $100 million you shouldn’t be arguing over who is first.” …

“It’s up to Coach [Woodson] to decide how he wants to coach the offense,” Oakley said while promoting Moore Training resistance bands. “I think the problem with the Knicks is that their best two guys don’t make the people around them better. You see it with the Miami’s, the Oklahoma City’s, the Bulls, their top guys make others better. If that’s the case, I’m going to make sure that my top two guys have the ball at all times.”

— Reported by Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the New York Post

Iman Shumpert rehab progressing on schedule

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert is biding his time until he can get back into a regular workout routine.

The second-year pro, who tore the ACL in his left knee in Game 1 of the Knicks’ first-round playoff series against the Heat in April, admitted it’s “frustrating” watching other players work out…

Eight months was the original timetable, according to Shumpert, and he said he’s taking the proper time to make sure he stays on his rehab schedule.

“It’s getting better . . . Everything’s been good so far,” Shumpert said. “I haven’t had any bad days. I’m happy about that. I’ll be going to a MRI soon and see if we can pick up the intensity of my rehab.”

— Reported by Marcus Henry of New York Newsday

Knicks cannot sign Josh Harrellson anytime soon

Because the Knicks traded Harrellson away, however, he can’t come back to them. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams that trade away players cannot re-sign them for a year after the trade – ending the previous common practice of a team trading away a player, only to see that player get bought out of his contract or waived and re-sign with the team that traded him 30 days after the deal was done.

The Rockets cut Harrellson after signing veteran swingman Carlos Delfino this week. Now, among the four players the Knicks sent to Houston in the Camby deal, only Toney Douglas remains on their roster, after the Rockets had cut Jordan last month.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Blog)

Jeremy Lin brings attention to Rockets

Lin was officially introduced to Houston on a makeshift stage that was set up on the Rockets’ practice court and greeted by a media throng that numbered in the hundreds, including many talking heads who probably needed a map and flashlight to locate the Toyota Center.

After three straight seasons of being the last team to miss the playoffs and carrying the best record — and longest odds — into the draft lottery, they were in need of an attraction that would make the masses remember that the Rockets were still operating an NBA franchise.

Never mind that they showed him the door back in December.

“It’s always difficult when you’ve obviously made an error,” Alexander said. “We made an error in letting him go. I think we rectified it now.

“I think the spotlight’s important. We’re gonna be on national TV now because of Jeremy and I think free agents want to be on teams that are in the national spotlight. So I think from a basketball standpoint we really improve our negotiations with many, many free agents.”

— Reported by Fran Blinebury of NBA.com

Another basketball court shooting, this time in Brooklyn

Four teens were wounded this evening at a Brooklyn basketball court in the city’s latest incident of gun violence, authorities said.

The victims — a 13-year-old girl, two 16-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man — were struck around 6:30 p.m. at Fish Playground on Fulton Street in Brownsville, cops said.

“There was a basketball game going on and there were a lot of people in the park,” said witness Tony Herbert, who identified himself as an advocate for the neighborhood.

“Two young guys came in , announced themselves with a gang code sound,… and began firing,” he said.

— Reported by Natasha Velez and Kevin Sheehan of the New York Post

Amare Stoudemire happily working out with Hakeem Olajuwon

Six-time NBA All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire “can’t wait” to explore the moves he has learned from former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon when he returns to play with the N.Y. Knicks.

Stoudemire has been in Houston for about a week working with the Hall of Fame center.

“It’s always room to improve as a player,” Stoudemire said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. “To want to be the best is always a common denominator for most players.

“So working with Hakeem, one of the best players to ever play the game, is a great opportunity for me. We are both very quick and athletic for our positions. So to learn from him will be a great advantage for me.”

Stoudemire said it is fantastic to work with a guy who has accomplished so much in the NBA.

— Reported by Mark Berman of My Fox Houston

Carmelo Anthony nursing a sore hamstring

The Knicks small forward has been nursing a sore hamstring for several days and insists that the injury is not serious. He will be available for Friday’s Olympics semifinal against Argentina.

“I’m fine,” he said before Thursday’s practice. “It’s nothing serious.”

The Knicks, however, are taking all the necessary precautions to make sure Anthony returns to the States healthy. The club sent a trainer to monitor Anthony over the final four days of the Olympics, which conclude with Sunday’s gold medal game.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Knicks, Bobcats interested in Lou Amundson

Lou Amundson’s agent has had an ongoing dialogue with the Knicks about bringing the bruising center to New York.

Several teams, including some with more money to offer than the Knicks, have also expressed interest in Amundson.

According to Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida, Amundson has drawn interest from Charlotte, which can offer the $2.5 non tax-payer exception.

The Knicks can offer only the veteran’s minimum to Amundson.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Knicks, Bulls, Pacers may want Donte Greene

Donte Greene says he is on the Knicks’ radar.

The former Sacramento Kings forward and current free agent said in a recent radio interview that the Knicks are among three teams who have expressed interest in signing him.

Greene told TheCDNetworks.com, a Sacramento internet radio show, that he is in talks with Chicago, New York and Indiana. He called the trio his “top three” possible free-agent destinations.

“Anybody could pop up at any time,” Greene told the radio show on Friday. “But those are the three that we’re focusing on and trying to work out and get a deal done.”

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York