Sports

DESPERATE KNICKS STILL CLING TO HILL HOPES

While the Knicks cling to scant hope that Grant Hill will change his mind about Orlando, the club apparently has lost out on another prized free agent yesterday in Portland forward Brian Grant.

Reports out of the Pacific Northwest have the Blazers offering the rugged Grant the maximum 10-year, $120 million contract, one he is about to accept if he gets a no-trade deal included.

Meanwhile, the Knicks have to take care of their own house and yesterday began to do just that. Six days after he became a free agent, negotiations on free agent forward Kurt Thomas have begun.

Jerry Hicks, Thomas’ agent, faxed their first proposal to Knick GM Scott Layden yesterday, asking for a six-year deal, which is maximum length for Thomas’ situation. It is believed the proposal also is close to the maximum amount in dollars which Thomas is eligible for as an early Bird candidate (a player who has been with his team just two seasons).

The maximum Thomas can make on a six-year deal is $30 million, with the base year beginning at $3.9 million and yearly maximum raises of $487,000. It is believed Thomas asked for a little less than that.

Hicks declined to comment on the numbers.

“What Kurt is looking for is a long-term deal,” Hicks said. “Every indication is Scott is interested in keeping him there.”

“We like Kurt a lot,” Layden said yesterday. “We’ve said that all year long. He’s an important player for us.”

Credit the Knicks for not giving up on Hill, showing a lot more resolve than the club did in the Indiana series. The Post reported Monday that Hill’s plans following his Orlando sojourn was to meet with the Knicks soon after the July 4th holiday. That meeting indeed took place but with a twist.

Instead of Hill coming to New York as had been talked about, the desperate Knick brass flew out to Detroit to meet with him Wednesday, with coach Jeff Van Gundy, Layden and Garden prez Dave Checketts and VP of operations Steve Mills all part of the entourage.

Also arriving in Detroit Wednesday was the San Antonio crew and GM/coach Gregg Poppovich met with Hill that evening. It is believed Hill was only being polite in meeting with those two clubs but the Knicks believe the Hill sweepstakes ain’t over till it’s over.

“We had a very good meeting,” a team official said. “We have to wait and see. He’s exploring a lot of options right now.”

Meanwhile, club officials confirmed the Knicks are more than ever still in the Danny Fortson sweepstakes, although they have not been able to finalize a sign-and-trade deal with Boston.

Orlando called Fortson’s agent to put its hat in the ring yesterday, perhaps as a backup plan if Tim Duncan does not sign.

French center Frederic Weis, their first-round pick in ’99, again delayed his visit to New York yesterday. The Knicks received a message that Weis’ father was sick and they don’t know exactly when the auditioning Weis will show. He was originally supposed to be here in late June working out with Van Gundy’s staff but postponed it because he was tired after working out with the French Olympic Team.

The unsigned Weis is expected to be here for sure for Wednesday’s first workout with the club’s summer league team of rookies and free agents, as the Knicks decide whether to sign him.