As Italian forward Danilo Gallinari makes his Knicks debut today at UNLV in their summer-league opener vs. Cleveland, the status of David Lee becomes murkier.

Lee, the team's most popular player and among the league's best rebounders, admitted yesterday he is bracing for the worst. Lee, who arrived in Vegas Friday to work out with the summer league team, had lunch with Mike D'Antoni and the Knicks coach explained to him why his name has come up in trade talks.