I don't know that the reports were totally false, just overblown. I didn't read the Hawks or Spurs ones (if there was ever a Spurs one not sure). But Ford's only mistake was saying that Isiah WOULD be willing to trade Marbury for the Sixers 4 guys. If he said that it was in the realm of possibility or something like The Knicks and Sixers have spoken (if they have and I don't doubt they have) and this was discussed. I'm sure that execs, especially rebuilding ones, talk to each other in the offseason about what they might do all the time. Maybe (just speculating) Isiah called and said what would it take for a sign and trade to get Dally? THe Sixers might have then said well the only player we like at all on your roster is Steph. And the more I think about it the Sixers are one organization that would be willing to take on that contracts for another star who might get them a championship (see Deke and C-Webb). There's an equal chance that Chad Ford pulled it out of his butt cause he saw that the Knicks could use Dally and the salaries work and heard that Thomas had a convo with the Sixers.