Tom Enlund of the Milaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that the Bucks are still working to get Michael Redd signed before training camp opens. "Status quo," general manager Ernie Grunfeld said when asked about the Redd situation. "We're still talking." When asked if he thought that Redd would be in uniform when the Bucks conduct their first workout, Grunfeld said "hopefully".

Redd blossomed last season after scoring 11.4 points in 67 games on 47.7% shooting and connected on 44.4% of his shots from three-point range. He is expected to be Ray Allens? backup at the shooting guard position.

"We really want him to be in camp, head coach George Karl said. "It's important for him to be there. But it's a business decision. I've talked to Michael about how important it is for him to be there." Redd is one of several Buck players that are still unsigned or have signed with other teams in the offseason. Rafer Alston, Darvin Ham, Mark Pope, Greg Anthony and Greg Foster are some of the others.

"I'd like to have all of them, Karl said about the unsigned veterans who were on the team last season. "But those are luxury tax decisions."

Redd is a restricted free agent, so the Bucks have the right to match any offer from another team to keep him. Every team in the league is above the salary cap, but teams that do have either or both of their salary cap exceptions ($1.5 million, $4.5 million) could offer all or a portion to Redd.

Because of the tax, the Bucks might not be inclined to match a generous offer to Redd. Even though Redd has been a free agent since July 1, he has not received an offer from another team, which might indicate that none is coming.

Redd does have the option of signing a one-year contract with the Bucks. He could then become an unrestricted free agent after next season and seek a more lucrative contract then.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports that the Knicks will be holding on to Latrell Sprewell? for a while. After almost being traded to the Bucks for Glenn Robinson earlier this summer, Sprewell will come into training camp with the Knicks.

According to a friend who spoke to Sprewell within the last two weeks, Sprewell said he was excited about playing for his hometown Bucks. He also laughed at the irony of the Knicks trading him to finally add size to their roster. "He thought it was a done deal," the friend said. "He was ready to move on."

Sprewell had lobbied for the Knicks to add frontcourt size for two seasons and in the trade that fell through, they would have added a forward in Robinson and a legitimate center in Earvin Johnson.

But Sprewell is back - perhaps until the February trading deadline - and no one can honestly predict how Sprewell will react and perform for an organization that tried so vigorously to trade him.

"It's not that we're just trying to get rid of him," coach Don Chaney said Friday. "I think he understands that one of the reasons why he, and not only Spree, is included in trades is that somebody out there thinks you're a pretty good player. At the same time, coming off a subpar year, as a player you have to understand there are going to be changes and he's mature enough to understand that.

"The one thing about him, which is different from a lot of NBA players, is that he has an unbelievable amount of maturity when it comes to the business of the game. He's not afraid of being traded. Naturally, he would love to be in New York. He made additions on his house. But I think he's one of those guys, if he's traded, he's traded. He knows that it is beyond his control. He also understands that this is a business."

Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Bucks have added some veteran depth to their roster. The team announced that they signed free agents Cedric Henderson and Laron Profit on Wednesday. As per club policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.

Henderson is a 5-year NBA vet who has a reputation for playing tough defence and played 12 games for the Warriors last season. Over his career he has averages of 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 260 games.

Profit played in Italy last season after being cut by the Magic in training camp. He played two seasons for Washington, averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

The Atlanta Hawks knew that recently disabled guard DerMarr Johnson would be fairly big shoes to fill, and the Hawks began that effort today when they signed free agent forward Darvin Ham on Tuesday.

But the move does little to replace the skill sets that Johnson brought to the lineup and Jason Walker wonders what's next for the Hawks.