http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/26982.htm

ALLAN COULD SIDESTEP 'HOUSTON RULE' SNUB

By MARC BERMAN

Allan Houston appears safe, The Post has learned.

The Knicks are expected to let Monday's amnesty deadline pass without waiving Houston, a league official said.

The Knicks are talking about waiving one of four other players in order to take advantage of the NBA's one-time provision and reduce their luxury tax liability. Power forwards Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor and, to a lesser extent, Jerome Williams are in danger. Perhaps the best option being reviewed is waiving the contract of Shandon Anderson, bought out last October.

Yesterday, Knicks president Isiah Thomas and newly hired coach Larry Brown huddled at their Westchester practice campus, partly to discuss their amnesty decision.

Cutting Houston would save the club $39.8 million in luxury tax; when the league included the provision in its new collective bargaining agreement, some even referred to the clause as "The Allan Houston Rule."

The club now believes that Houston, once reluctant to retire, will hang them up if he's not close to being ready by the end of October's training camp.

Houston has told Knicks officials he doesn't want to go through the same ordeal of the past two seasons, missing 92 games, and would consider retirement if he's still not healthy after camp.

Houston's sentiment changed the Knicks' position on how best to proceed. A faction within the organization believes the veteran shooting guard's arthritic knees will not heal enough to allow him to play close to an entire season.

The Knicks would prefer that Houston agree to a medical retirement, which would save them much more than just the luxury tax reduction of the amnesty rule. Houston would get every penny but insurance — not the Knicks — would pay 75 percent of Houston's $39.8M in salary, minus a 20 percent deductible.

Owner James Dolan is fond of Houston and would like to see him go out on his own terms. Brown, too, has had major input.

Sources close to Houston told The Post that Houston had not yet been informed of the Knicks' decision.

The Knicks can save $18 million if they waive Anderson's pact on Monday. The Knicks would save $18.8 million waiving Taylor, but his contract becomes a big asset next summer when it enters its final year. Rose, in contrast, has three years remaining and the Knicks could be relieved of $19.5 million in luxury tax.

*

The Knicks have interest in 7-foot, 280-pound free-agent center DeSagana Diop and they worked him out yesterday in Westchester.

He averaged just 7.5 minutes per game last season, averaging one point and one rebound, but he's only 23.

Damnit Rich, you always beat me to it.

I could live with Mo T or Rose being waved with Houston retiring. I like Rose better than Mo but like the article said, Mo goes into his last year next season. Mo off the bench at the 4 behind Frye's minutes at the four is fine with me.

That was also interesting that we worked out Diop yesterday. That's been a topic of discussion around here of late

I like it. If Houston can play at a high level, he could help the team. If not, he leaves with dignity.

I'd use the clause on either Mo T or Shandon. Mo offers the least out of our overpaid PFs. If you use it on Shandon, you don't lose a potential expiring contract, but you'll have to waive another player eventually anyway because there are 16 on the team right now.

The Knicks have interest in 7-foot, 280-pound free-agent center DeSagana Diop and they worked him out yesterday in Westchester.

that's good news. He's a low risk gamble.

LOL He'll retire and we'll all kiss his azz GOODBYE nonetheless, under more beneficial terms for the team.

Either way, he goes. Point made.


[Edited by - HARDCOREKNICKSFAN on 08/13/2005 10:10:13]

The scenario of Houston retiring and the Knicks waving another player would be the best one for all parts. Houston would retire in a good way, he would get his money. The Knicks would not even stop worrying about luxury tax, but also about most of his contract, which is great for the franchise. Now, the tough part is, who to waive? Someone has got to be waived, for sure, but who? I would say waive either Rose or Mo T, but I'd be more inclined to waive Rose. Why? Rose is another undersized power forward that even though he plays bigger, his contract is also big. We would save the most by waving his contract, we would aliviate a little the glut at PF and we would lose a long contract. Rose may be a better player than Mo T, but Mo's contract is shorter and we know it doesn't hurt to have an expiring contract next season, especially a big one (I believe it will be 10+ mill). We also have a player similar to Rose in JYD so it wouldn't hurt us that much.

Waving Anderson would be the safe choice, but we don't save soo much in tax. He isn't with the Knicks anymore so it wouldn't solve anything in terms of roster. Maybe the fact that the Knicks are looking at DeSagna is a sign that they may waive a player on the roster..

Posted by Silverfuel:

Posted by HARDCOREKNICKSFAN:

Either way, he goes. Point made.

fingers crossed

Lol, your dream will come true soon...

Posted by Knicksfan:

Posted by Silverfuel:

Posted by HARDCOREKNICKSFAN:

Either way, he goes. Point made.

fingers crossed

Lol, your dream will come true soon...

Haha, I know Silver has been absolutely waiting for this day for a long time, he may finally get it!

I would have to say I think JYD would be my choice to go. I absolutely love the guy but I see other players having more of an impact on the game and I think his game is too similiar to Roses who also just happens to be a better player. I can also see the sentiment for people wanting to get rid of Rose since he has 3 more years left on his contract(including this year) to JYDs 2 and a Team Option. In the end I just think it comes down to who the better player is and I'd rather have Malik on the team, but it kills me to say that becuase JYD brings so much excitement to the court when he's out there.

I'd keep either Rose or JYD, but not both. Rose's contract is longer and he is shorter than JYD, who brings excitement along with versatility (great defender that can play SF). I'd keep JYD and waive Rose, but only because of his contract. Rose is a good role player to have, a winner, but his contract is too big...

You DON'T cut JYD OR Malik b/c that's FARRRR worse than cutting Houston. Imagine the Nets signing one of the 2.....use your heads fellas.

I think Shandon's gonna be cut. While the glut at the 4 sucks, there's no reason to do something stupid and forking over a useful big man to a conference rival like Chicago or NJ.

Posted by Rich:

The Knicks are rebuilding. They shouldn't care if the Nets sign a player they waive.

We have a decent chance of making the playoffs next year, so it does matter.