HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

As a horde of reporters enter the New York Knicks’ locker room, Landry Fields sits at his locker and takes it all in. While veterans such as Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire continue playing with their phones and filling out ticket requests, Fields surveys the room, which is packed tightly with recorder-wielding individuals.

"It’s been a circus," Fields said with a laugh. "But it’s been a lot of fun. I’m truly grateful for where I’m at."

He has a significant, starting role on a contender, which is something no other rookie can say. He loves New York and is a part of the Knicks’ first winning season since 2000. Fields couldn’t be happier with where he’s at, but that could have all changed last week.

In order to acquire Anthony, the Knicks had to trade Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Fields had originally been discussed in talks, but the Nuggets instead wanted Gallinari included in the deal.

Even though Fields wasn’t traded, he realizes how close he came to wearing a powder blue jersey. Once he saw that the finalized deal didn’t include his name, he admits he let out a sigh of relief.

"At the end of the day, it’s a business and the organization was going to do what was best for them," Fields said before smiling. "I’m really happy to be in the New York though."

"You don’t really know about it until you’re thrown through it, but now I completely understand what kind of business this is. At the end of the day, you just have to focus on your own game and you can’t worry about any external stuff like that," he added.

Playing his game is much easier these days. Not only because the trade rumors are in the past, but also because he has veterans like Chauncey Billups, Anthony and Stoudemire making his job easier.

"They’re phenomenal players," Fields said. "No matter where they go, they’ll always be able to make things a lot easier for everyone. It’s a little bit different when you have new guys, but you just have to mesh with them and find out where you’re going to be the most successful with the new crew that’s in. But it’s all part of a growing process and we’re definitely getting better."

Recent wins against the Miami Heat and New Orleans Hornets, as well as a tight game with the Orlando Magic, prove that the team is making progress.

"It’s a big confidence booster," Fields said. "We just came together and we’re a brand new team. We still have a lot of different things to work out, but to play like we are now looks good. Things are looking good for us."

Things are also looking good for Fields after months of uncertainty. Despite the media frenzy and chaos surrounding his locker, he is smiling. With the trade deadline in the past and the playoffs ahead, it’s time to embrace and enjoy the circus.

Przybilla Embraces New Situation: When Joel Przybilla received the news that he had been traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, he wasn’t surprised. He knew a trade was coming, he just wasn’t sure when it would happen or where he would end up.

{AUTHOR_BOX}"I had heard about it for awhile," Przybilla told HOOPSWORLD. "I wasn’t really shocked because I had heard my name floated around for awhile and I was expecting it to happen. It was no big deal and I’m just happy to be here. It’s a good situation."

In the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, reports indicated that Przybilla would retire or ask for a buyout in the event of a trade. While he was originally unsure if the Bobcats actually wanted him or just his expiring contract, Przybilla kept an open mind. He wanted to make sure he wasn’t being brought in just to come off the books this summer because he still wanted be a contributor. A meeting with owner Michael Jordan and head coach Paul Silas shortly after his arrival in Charlotte convinced him that they also wanted the latter.

"I think it was [overstated]," Przybilla said of the buyout and retirement rumors. "I came here and I didn’t know what to expect. But talking to Michael right away, he told me that he wanted me here, and that really meant a lot. It made me realize that he did actually want me to be here and now I just want to help this team get back into the playoffs. That’s all. That’s my goal. It changed a lot. They were really positive about everything and the meeting helped a lot. It changed my mind, definitely."

But the idea of retiring continues to cross Przybilla’s mind and it’s something the 31-year-old will consider this summer. He admits that his surgically repaired knee has limited him, and how it feels this summer will greatly determine whether or not he walks away from the game.

"Yeah, I’ve talked it over with my wife a lot," Przybilla said. "It really depends how my knee feels when the season is over. It depends on how I feel when the summer is over with, or if there’s a lockout because I’m not 100 percent. Everyone knows that, but I still go out there and give it my all anyways."

"It’s tough because I’m not able to do what I used to be able to do," he continued. "It’s getting better. Every time I step onto the floor, every practice and every game, I feel more comfortable on it. A lot of it is just getting back to that playing basketball form again. But the decision for me, if I do decide to come back or not next year, will definitely be health related."

For now, Przybilla is focused on providing toughness and changing the mentality in Charlotte. Everyone wants to write the Bobcats off, but the center doesn’t feel that the team is rebuilding. He is determined to help the group reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

"The biggest thing for me is just bringing the mentality to be tough and consistent every night," Przybilla said. "We have twenty-something games left and we’re going to have to win a lot of those ballgames to get into the playoffs. In order to do that on a nightly basis, we have to be ready and consistent every night. I don’t think we’re rebuilding. We were talking about it on the bus ride over here today. We’re only a half game out. Why not give us a shot to make the playoffs?"

Przybilla has come to terms with his situation in Charlotte as well as his future. However, he doesn’t want to go out a rebuilding team’s expiring contract. He wants to contribute on a playoff team, and that’s what he plans on doing.

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