"The question regarding Chris Paul's possible future employer brought a big smile to Carmelo Anthony's face as if it w ere a little inside joke between him and the New Orleans Hornets' All-Star point guard.

Except the idea of pairing Paul with Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire may be the worst-kept secret in basketball. And even though Paul sidestepped inquires about the Knicks as deftly as he dribbles around defenders, Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn served as the unofficial start of the Paul sweepstakes.

"I try not to pay attention to all that different type of stuff," Paul said. "My heart is in New Orleans right now. The reason I'm here in New York, like what Melo just said, is for him.""