by Ronald Tillery , The Commercial Appeal

Walsh took his time.

The Griz kept trying, and lobbed virtually the same overtures well into September.

Walsh's reply in effect was "don't call us, we'll call you." Realizing he had two years to dump salary for 2010 free-agent shopping and could afford to window shop, Walsh took his time.

Make no mistake. Memphis wanted Randolph. The move would have been a Basketball no-brainer and any perceived off-court issues were considered manageable.

But Walsh said no.

This past week proved why. Randolph was clearly worth a bigger and better deal, and one that wouldn't net players with contracts that run past the 2009-10 season. Jaric, whose deal expires after 2010-11, was the poison pill.

So Walsh became the envy of his peers last Friday when he pulled off a pair of transactions that position the Knicks to court LeBron James , Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh , expected free agents in the summer of 2010.

Every player the Knicks received - Al Harrington , Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley - has a contract that expires after next season. Two separate deals involving Randolph and Jamal Crawford saved the Knicks long-term financial commitments to those two players.

Early projections have the Knicks' payroll in the $20-plus million dollar range that summer, leaving them with enough cash to offer two maximum contract deals.

"It was a great day for the Knicks," one Western Conference general manager said. "They became lethal. I would be shocked if they get shut out (of a major free agency in 2010)."

New York City aside, what the Knicks have working in their favor are a player-pleasing coach (Mike D'Antoni) and a style (run, gun and have fun) that's appealing to everyone from scrubs to superstars.

Money isn't going to be the biggest factor in James' decision in 2010.

"When I make that decision, it will be based on winning multiple championships," said James, who can opt out of his contract after the 2009-10 season and become an unrestricted free agent. "If it's moving elsewhere, I will have to weigh all my options. It's a business. Franchises do what's best for the franchise. We have to do what's best for us."

The downside is the Knicks are asking their fans to be patient the next couple of years. But unlike during the Isiah Thomas Era, there is a bright light at the end of that dark tunnel.

"They've got big-time hope," an Eastern Conference general manager said. "There's no question they hit a grand slam."

Technically speaking

The NBA's leader in technical fouls is not a complainer, whiner or thug, which might be why he doesn't feel it's a problem that he's been T'ed up six times in 12 games.

Boston's Kendrick Perkins doesn't have any plans to tone down his act.

"I love it," Perkins said of the intensity. "I love how we fight and how we're competing. Every game is like a playoff game. Guys are giving us our best shots and we're pushing forward."

Even Detroit's volatile Rasheed Wallace , who last year was suspended for a game for surpassing the league limit of 15 technical fouls in a season, has half as many.

Local flavor

Memphis product Thaddeus Young , the second-year wing player for Philadelphia, was the team's leading scorer through its first 10 games.

"That's shocking," 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "But I think if he had two points he would still have an impact on the game. It's not like he's got to score 20 points to have an impact. His impact is just based on the things that he does. No flash offensive rebounds, runs the floor, beating people down the floor."

No-charge zone

Through his first 12 NBA appearances, Miami rookie Michael Beasley has yet to draw his first charge.

"I never took a charge in my life," he said, smiling

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra isn't amused. Spoelstra said Beasley would continue to sit at the end of games because of his defense.

"We're going to have to see it," Spoelstra said. "I'm not going to back off at all on the accountability and expectations."

Battier battling back

Former Griz Shane Battier took part in his first practice with Houston since the opening of training camp. Battier had surgery in early May on his left ankle. His workouts aren't painless. "It's going to hurt for the rest of the year," Battier said. "My two gauges are is it enough pain to keep me from doing my job and is it going to cause further injury. If I can manage those two things, I don't anticipate further problems."

From the baseline

Talk about being left out in the cold. ESPN.com reported that P.J. Carlesimo was fired before the team boarded a flight to New Orleans for a game Saturday. An interim was named after the flight took off, and Carlesimo did not make the trip. ... If Antonio McDyess wasn't going back to Detroit, what's he waiting for to sign with a team? ... The agent for Jamaal Tinsley has approached the Indiana Pacers about a possible buyout. The Pacers owe Tinsley slightly more than $21 million on a contract that expires in 2010-11.

Many around the league think New Jersey will make Vince Carter available at the trade deadline. Cleveland is rumored to be a suitor in waiting. ... Juan Carlos Navarro is back in Spain. Casey Jacobsen is playing in Europe. Now, Andre Brown has been waived by Charlotte. Guess the Grizzlies' bench is better this year.

Call Ronald Tillery at 529-2353, read his Grizzlies blog at commercialappeal.com/tillery and listen to him 6-8 a.m. weekdays on The Morning Rush on WHBQ-AM (560).

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10 from Tillery

With names such as Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups and Zach Randolph already hiring moving vans this early in the season, here is what the NBA's all-unmovable squad could look like:

1. Stephon Marbury, N. York

2. Steve Francis, Houston

3. Antoine Walker, Memphis

4. Eddy Curry, New York

5. Damon Jones, Milwaukee

6. Marko Jaric, Memphis

7. Jamal Tinsley, Indiana

8. Jerome James, New York

9. Boris Diaw, Phoenix

10. Reggie Theus, Sacramento (next coach to be fired?)

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