If Houston goes, it won't be for good
By MIKE DOUGHERTY
(Original publication: August 15, 2005)


BREWSTER — Until the Knicks officially make a decision, Allan Houston will not address the future.

Except for one thing.

"What I will say is the retirement thing is something I've been laughing at, you should be laughing at, everybody should be laughing at," Houston said yesterday while taking a break from his second annual Father and Son Basketball Retreat. "It is kind of frustrating. As much as I've communicated to everyone that I'm not going to retire, it's like people still don't know. I'm not going to retire. I'm still going to play."

Where he plays and when he plays remain very much up in the air.

Knicks president Isiah Thomas indicated recently the organization was making plans to utilize the league's amnesty offer. He doesn't sound convinced Houston will return and help the rebuilding effort after missing 60 games last season with a chronic knee problem.

A number of players have already been cut loose by their clubs, including Doug Christie (by the Magic) and Brian Grant (by the Lakers).

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams can waive a single player and remove that salary from the payroll when computing luxury-tax payments. The move provides no cap relief and the player receives all of the guaranteed money he is due on the contract. Getting rid of Houston would result in a $40 million savings over the next two seasons. The deadline is today.

Thomas isn't alone in this decision, though.

He met with new coach Larry Brown on Friday to discuss the situation. Garden chairman James Dolan seems to be involved as well since he's the one who bestowed a controversial $100 million contract upon Houston in 2001 when strength of character was being emphasized.

Unless there's been a sudden change in thinking, that personal friendship might keep the former All-Star in town.

"The comfort that I have is that nobody knows what tomorrow's going to hold," Houston said. "I've been so fortunate to be here going on 10 years. I just tried to work my butt off and play hard every day. Nobody knows what's going to happen, but I'm very confident I'm going to get back to 100 percent. The hardest thing about this whole thing is the patience.

"What happens when you haven't played in a long time is people assume you're not going to be able to, period. And that's not the case. My progress has been gradual. Not one day have I taken a step back. It hasn't come the way I expected it to, but it's been progressing. I realize this is the NBA and they have to do what they have to do, but I have to get healthy and do what I have to do."

He expects to be approaching full speed when training camp gets under way Oct. 4.

Maurice Taylor might be on the way out if ownership refuses to cut its ties with Houston. The Knicks would save $18 million over the next two seasons if Taylor was let go, but he'll be a tradable asset in a year, so there's a measure of risk involved. Shandon Anderson was sent packing last season but remains on the books. Subtracting Anderson's salary would result in a $16.4 million tax savings.

For one more day, at least, Houston is content to wait.

"Right now, I'm just kind of enjoying this," he said. "When it happens that I know I'll be here, I'll be happy because I've always dreamed of finishing here and I've always dreamed of having my jersey up in the Garden. Who knows if it's going to happen, but I'm still here and I'm happy about it."

Posted by djsunyc:

the question i have is how much money does jim dolan really have? i mean seriously, if h20 doesn't retire, based on their friendship, he's dishing out $40 mil. $40 MIL!!! dat's a whole lotta dim sum.