--- After finishing practice with the Celtics on Wednesday on the campus of UCLA, Eddie House told reporters that he expects to be traded to the New York Knicks before Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline.

"I love playing with [the Celtics], but at the end of the day, it's business," House said. "The Celtics feel they're a better team with the guy they're trying to get. I gotta move on, that's what it is. I'm here at practice today, I'm a basketball player, I do what I love to do. Then [Thursday] I'll figure out what's going to happen.

"At the end of the day, that's something that is not in my control. It's out of my hands - it's never been in my hands. Wherever I go, if I go to New York, I'll play two months, try to play real strong basketball and hopefully get some wins with those guys and make a good account for me for free agency."

The Celtics are reportedly in the final stages of sending House to the Knicks for guard Nate Robinson, but coach Doc Rivers said that the deal is not done. He did confirm that talks are going on.

There was a flurry of activity on the Twitter wires Wednesday afternoon when Alan Hahn of Newsday wrote that the Knicks were sending Robinson to Boston for House and a second round pick.

But Rivers stressed that the deal is not done.

The problem stems from House's $2.8 million salary. Robinson is a base-year compensation player who is making $2.02 million this year. House makes about $100,000 too much for it to be a straight-up trade.

Both teams seem motivated to get a deal done.

The Celtics have been trying all season to get a solid backup point guard for Rajon Rondo. The 25-year-old Robinson, who averages 13.2 points and 3.7 assists per game and has won three consecutive Slam Dunk contests, will give them that. He can score in bunches, and has nine games this season where he has scored 19 points or more, including a 41-point New Year's Day outburst in Atlanta.

Robinson has the ability to veto any trade, but, according to Newsday, Robinson wants to play in Boston. He stands to make a $1 million bonus if his team makes the playoffs.

The Knicks, meanwhile, will get the sharpshooting House, who played for New York coach Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix and D'Antoni likes House's game. House is averaging 7.2 points and 1.0 assists in just under 17 minutes of action this year. House said that he wouldn't mind playing for D'Antoni again.

"That helps a lot," said House. "I know the coaching staff, I know the system, I know the plays they run. I know my style will fit right in. I'm feeling good, right now, about the way I'm playing. It's going to be a good thing. You have to take it like that.

"Nothing surprises me in this league. You never know what can happen. I take it all in stride. It had to be for a reason. Whatever that reason is."

House has struggled with his 3-point shot this year, making just 38.3 percent of them after setting a single-season franchise record in 3-point field goal percentage last year (44.4 percent).

He said that he will miss his teammates if the deal goes through.

"I have a bond with these guys that can never be broken," House said. "We won the championship together. Just being around them, you have a bond on and off the court with these guys. They're friends that I will have for the rest of my life. That's a tough thing but it's not like it's the end of the world."