<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WITH RUSSIAN CENTER OUT, KNICKS EYE POLISH FORWARD By MARC BERMAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 21, 2003 -- With 7-5 Russian center Pavel Podzokline pulling out of the draft after being diagnosed with a pituitary gland disorder, the Knicks have a new 18-year-old international flavor of the week: Polish 7-foot small forward Maciej Lampe. The Knicks yesterday invited Lampe to a second workout for Wednesday, the day before the draft. Lampe, who is projected to go as high as No. 5 to Miami, sustained back spasms in his first Knick workout last week and shut it down halfway through. The Knicks have also arranged a workout for Texas point guard T. J. Ford for Wednesday, though speculation they're aiming to trade up for him was denied by the organization. With the stock of Lampe and Kansas point guard Kirk Hinrich rising, Ford could legitimitely fall to nine. The Knicks also formally announced the hiring of assistant coach Lon Kruger, who was 69-122 with Atlanta and who coached point guard Frank Williams his freshman year at Illinois. </div>
