Brian Grant to Knicks?

GRANT 'SOLD' ON
JOINING KNICKS
By MARC BERMAN

Brian Grant arrived Wednesday at Newark Airport to visit the Knicks as a courtesy. The Blazers were still his first love. Oh, has that changed.
Grant's heart has gone yonder over the course of two days in New York. The rugged free-agent power forward departed last night for Portland giddy about his new fling, saying he was "sold" on New York and, incredibly, is leaning toward joining the Knicks.

Grant, 28, the offensive rebounder the Knicks crave, said he is ready to ask for a divorce that no one saw coming. The Knicks are no longer longshots in the Grant sweepstakes. The Knicks have a real shot. Does Dave Checketts know how to show somebody a good time or what?

In a stunning reversal, Grant said before departing on his flight to Portland that he will ask Portland GM Bob Whitsitt to further explore a sign-and-trade with the Knicks. Grant called it a "toss-up" on whether he remains in Portland or jumps ship to New York, as he doesn't have a lot of bargaining power if the Blazers refuse.

"I know coming out I told my agent I was all for Portland," Grant said while waiting for his 6 p.m. flight from Newark that was delayed two hours by storms. "But going back, it's a tossup, 50-50. I could go to New York or I could stay in Portland. New York sold me. I was sold on New York. If they could work something out, I will come to New York."

Now Grant's got to sell Portland on initiating a complicated sign-and-trade since the Knicks have no cap room. The Blazers have rejected a couple of Marcus Camby packages as they want Latrell Sprewell included. "If they want to move in another direction and do a sign-and-trade," Grant said, "I definitely would want to do it."

"I could see myself being in New York and we'll go home and talk about it," added Grant, seeking the maximum contract ($86 million, seven years). "But even if I say I want to go to New York doesn't mean they can make a trade. I plan on talking to them and telling them I had a great visit and I'm interested in New York."

On Thursday, the Knicks gave Grant a grand tour of Westchester and he fell in love with its bucolic setting and the practice facility at Purchase College. The Knicks allayed Grant's biggest fear, finding a nice place for his pretty wife Gina and three young sons to live. He was ecstatic he didn't have to schlep to the city for practices.

"I liked it a lot," Gina said. "I thought it would be a lot more hectic."

Thursday night, the Grants were taken aboard Cablevision magnate Charles Dolan's yacht in Manhattan. They met Spike Lee. Yesterday, the Knicks left the Grants alone to explore Manhattan on their own before heading to Newark Airport.

Grant told The Post Thursday he was 'scared" of New York before the visit. No longer.

"When I said I was scared of New York, I didn't mean I was scared of the people," said the dread-locked Grant. "I'm coming from a small town and I thought it would be a big adjustment to the big city."

Grant's agent agreed.

"He now knows he won't have to live in Times Square," said Mark Bartlestein. "What's going to happen now is [GM] Scott [Layden] and Bob are going to talk and see if there's anything to talk about. Both teams have a lot of talented players."

Bartlestein doesn't expect talks to begin until after the weekend. And, naturally, Grant was speaking in the afterglow of a sparkling visit. He still must hear the Blazers' pitch and he's not ruling out asking to stay put. But Grant knows that he won't start for the Blazers next season because of Rasheed Wallace. Grant's 21-minutes-per-game average of last season is unacceptable.

"I know everyone's got to sacrifice on a team," Grant said. "Do I want to make that [much of a] sacrifice or be put on a different organization with a bigger role and contribute more?"

The Knicks have a gaping void for a nasty starting power forward -a vacuum created when Charles Oakley was traded two summers ago for Camby. The Knicks were last in the league in offensive rebounding.

"I think I would make a great fit as far as adding to a great team they already have," the 6-9 Grant said. "Do I make this team that much better? Who knows. But I'm a similar-type of player as far as what they bring to the table. They're a hard-nosed defensive team.

"I don't like to toot my own horn but what I do is the type of player they're looking for," Grant added. "I like to rebound, I like to play defense, which is everything the Knick organization is about."

"No question, it's an issue," Bartlestein said of Portland playing time. "He needs to play 32-33 minutes a night."




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"Is this thing on? I'm in charge now"-Alexander Haig