| Dolan is saving Houston from Isiah's amnesty ax |
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| Who Dat? (Who Dat@ncat.com) |
2005/08/15 04:38 |
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Garden chairman James Dolan is willing to wager $40 million that Allan
Houston will be a healthy and productive player this season.
The Knicks are expected to use today's "amnesty provision" not to get
rid of their 34-year-old shooting guard, but to release Jerome
Williams instead. Malik Rose and Malik Taylor were candidates to be
released. The one-time only provision in the new collective bargaining
agreement allows teams that are over the salary cap to cut one player
and not have to pay the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on the contract.
Houston is the most logical choice - and the player Isiah Thomas wants
to release - because he has appeared in just 70 games over the past
two seasons due to a chronic knee condition and because he will earn
$40 million through 2007. According to several sources, Dolan, who has
a close relationship with Houston, informed the veteran two weeks ago
that he wanted him to continue his career in New York.
A person close to Houston says the shooting guard has mixed feelings
over being spared by Dolan. Houston knows that Thomas, the Knicks'
president, believes his best days have long since passed. Last year,
Thomas told reporters that Houston should consider retirement.
Over the past 13 months, Thomas has acquired shooting guards Jamal
Crawford and Quentin Richardson, and now Larry Brown is considering
playing Stephon Marbury at the two-guard position.
From both a basketball and economic standpoint, it makes sense for
Houston and the Knicks to mutually sever ties. Having Houston on the
roster at the start of training camp could create problems for both
sides. If Houston struggles in October, the front office may pressure
him into retiring, which is something Houston has been reluctant to
seriously consider.
Dolan is risking a public relations mess because many Knick supporters
- either fairly or unfairly - have blamed Houston's injury and his
$100 million contract for the team's five-year slide. If Houston is
unable to help the Knicks, the organization will be criticized for not
cutting him when it had the chance.
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