Via AllanHouston.com

First I acknowledged that it was a very good question. I knew coming in that if we try to live our lives based on what people think about us, and how others see us, then we’ll be miserable. Our identity -who we are- must be based on what God says about us. This is easier said than done, but One piece of advice that we share with players who come to NY, is that you can’t care about what people think…

Allan is one of the most easy going guys you can deal with. He’s always working with players and talking to people. He understands the game in New York. When I go to practice I’m not looking for an angle, frankly my conversations are more centered around Xs and Os and player development.  I’ve seen quotes can spun into headline stories and honestly wondered why. I can see where players and coaches get miffed, which is why words have to be used carefully. Sad, but true.

Just listened to Allan Houston on with Michael Kay on 1050 and I have to say I was struck by his calm, cool confidence. He doesn’t seem phased at all about reports.

He also made a huge point about other teams talent in relation to the Knicks and it’s one I’ve been saying for a long time.

Great players make role players much better, but moreover, great players understand that.

He mentioned Douglas and Gallo in particular.

NEW YORK, AUGUST 24, 2009 – Former New York Knick Captain, Two Time
All-Star NBA and Olympic Gold Medalist Allan Houston
(www.AllanHouston.com) announced today he plans to visit Israel this
week. Allan and his wife Tamara will  participate in a JCRC visit,
flying El Al Airlines and highlights will include government briefings,
sightseeing and a basketball clinic in Sderot.

A delegation of community and political leaders from New York will visit
from August 25 — 31, 2009 to explore first-hand the current situation
in Israel, as it strives to achieve a lasting peace and provide security
for its citizenry.

“I am pleased to visit Israel on a solidarity mission and look forward
to visiting the sites I have read so much about in the Bible,” said
Houston.

Their courting is on the serious level, and we’ll know soon enough just how much Grant Hill is serious about playing in New York.

Because at the end of the day, the Knicks will offer the most money, and we’ll have to see if that is the overriding factor for the ex-Duke star.

“…We think we have a chance, but you never know,” a team source said last night. In a visit that blew Jason Kidd’s away, Hill arrived yesterday at the Garden at 11:30 a.m., got the arena tour and the jersey before being whisked to the Knicks’ practice facility in Westchester.

Last night, Hill, his agent Lon Babby, Walsh and D’Antoni headed out for dinner. The Knicks could blow the Celtics out of the water since Boston is using their $5.8 million mid-level exception on Rasheed Wallace and can offer Hill only the $1.9M lower exception.

With Kidd agreeing to terms with Dallas, the Knicks have their $5.8 million mid-level exception to use and can take half of it to top Boston on a one-year deal for Hill, who played 82 games last season, averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds.

“You want to have players who’ve had a lot of success before so they can show the other players how to do it,” Walsh told The Post. “That’s the kind of player we want to bring in…”

Walsh was sure to include Allan Houston in training camp last year for the same reason, but it was such a zoo that the impact of the idea went ignored. Fans really don’t quite fathom how much of a disaster the people Isiah brought into this organization were when they were all in a room together.

Thankfully, that is in the rearview mirror.

Again, the idea that Hill would get minutes at the 2 is good in theory, but he’s a slashing mid-range player. He’s not coming here to play out of position, not when he can go and back up Paul Pierce.

The only thing that makes sense to me about this signing, other than the locker room thing, is that it makes it easier to trade a small forward.

They’re not bringing Hill in to just be a locker room attendant. The guy can still play.

According to the New York Post, Allan Houston will represent the Knicks in Secaucus on May 19th for the anticipated Draft Lottery.

“…The Post has learned Houston has been tabbed to sit on the dais in Secaucus, to represent the Knicks in the May 19 lottery that will determine their draft order. Houston sat on the dais in 2003 during the LeBron JamesLottery and the Knicks landed the No. 9 pick, which they used on bust Michael Sweetney.”

Berman also adds that this could mean more than the Knicks just wanting the always well-dressed, well-spoken Allan Houston to represent them.

“…The Knicks are seeded eighth, with a 2.8 percent chance of moving to the No. 1 slot and a 10 percent chance of landing a top-three position. The Knicks are praying they can get a crack at the draft’s top two prizes — Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio and Oklahoma power forward Blake Griffin — in a lottery otherwise deemed weak.

Houston’s selection is an indication of his growing influence in the organization in his first year as special assistant to team president Donnie Walsh. Houston, who did college scouting in February and March, will be a part of the brain trust selecting their pick and is the possible heir apparent as Knicks GM.”

I like the choice.  Houston is one of the best possible guys who could represent the franchise.  Hopefully he can bring some good luck.  David Lee would probably be the choice if his future was not uncertain, Chandler always seems awkward in interviews, and Danilo only played 28 games.

Via Pete Vecsey:

“…In the intervening time there are more urgent issues — the draft, free agency and trades — to research and resolve. When those issues are settled, that’s when Walsh will determine whether even to hire a general manager.

In all probability, it will happen in spite of how highly Walsh regards senior VP Glen Grunwald; because, should the Knicks ever recoup esteem in the standings, Donnie’s chosen one will succeed him when he retires. His $5 million per contract expires in April 2011, at which time Walsh will have just turned 70.

Though Mullin (if free) unquestionably will be among the top three candidates along with Billy King and Billy Knight — Walsh has Indiana Pacers affections and connections with all three — you had better believe there has been no conversation with Chris; tampering could cost the Knicks a No. 1 pick. So, naturally, there has been no commitment.

Yet the rumors continue to circulate to the contrary. In the last few days, I’ve received e-mails from unsound sources contending Mullin-to-the-Knicks is verbally a done deal. A couple of months ago, I was alerted Mullin was shopping for a home in Westchester (for years, he has owned one in the Hamptons), but the name of the real estate agent was not provided.

Walsh has been bombarded with related rumblings, and not just about Mullin.

“Some guy called me yesterday and said he’d heard I’d hired Billy Knight,” Walsh said. “I have no idea where all this stuff comes from. It’s amazing how much misinformation is out there…”

Knight was rumored to be a leading candidate last season, but Walsh decided not to hire anyone in that capacity. I think Mullin, under Walsh’s tutleage, could be okay. People want to look at his record in Golden State, but they did make the playoffs- an astounding feat.

I wonder where this leaves Allan Houston? Walsh, like us, sees H2O as an executive in the making. I’m sure any hire will have to keep Houston under his arm and allow him the ability to grow.

No one has a better handle on March Madness than Gus Johnson, other than maybe Raf...”Onions…DOUBLE ORDER!!”

Actually, Bill is the best, but I love Gus this time of year. Granted, Gus likes to treat game 41 against the Raptors like the Final Four and he guzzles the Kool-Aid at times, but he is fantastic in the right setting.  He’s a lot like Gary Thorne in that sense when Thorne would go gaga every minute of every game while doing the Devils, but we’re okay with it.

East Coast Bias has the best of Gus.

This video is getting a lot of buzz. You have to love the idea that Walsh has the fans in mind. Excerpts of this video have now been featured in the Post, and at 1:00 Walsh answers the “backup plan” question. It’s hard to imagine that Donnie doesn’t have a backup plan for Lebron, as if the Knicks would just shrivel up and close, but hey, news is news.

Also, Walsh mentioned that Allan Houston is a “great candidate” to be back in the NBA and he thinks a GM role maybe in his future. Right now, Allan is in Player Development and will be involved in scouting college players for the draft. Speaking of the draft, Walsh said he is looking for “guys who want to win” and “has toughness.” He said that player will have to guard “a position” defensively.

Interestingly, he mentions that he’s looking for “players with energy” and mentions KG and Ron Artest,  not Nate Robinson.

Just got finished watching the Allan Houston #20 tribute on MSG and let me say it was very well done.

For those loyal Gym Rats, you guys know that I’m a big Allan fan as a person and as a Knick.

Towards the end of the piece Allan talked about how cerebral he was in terms of how he would be remembered, and that he wanted the focus to be on his “integrity.”

The most painful thing for me is that it seems for a large group of Knick fans Houston is thought about first as the 1999 season and second as “overpaid.”

That’s a shame.

For those who think of Allan in the following light, good for you. Every Knick should emote the same class that Houston did here. Period.

Now, I’m no dummy, I understand NY and the “results” mindset and that a guy who made $100 million dollars should make the playoffs.  But the organization around him let him down. You want to talk Glen Rice when Sprewell and Houston were already here? How about Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley?

You guys remember. But do you remember thinking you preferred Sprewell at the two? Or that John Starks was your guy?

It seems that Allan’s lack of emotion, as Jeff Van Gundy said in the piece “was misinterpreted” as it related to Starks and I agree. I wonder if fans ever embraced him. And I wonder if the passionate “know it all” younger generation have a clue about how good a man he is. I wonder if they care.

Sure, Allan had his flaws, and yes this post has strange timing, I just think it’s important to stress the same thing Allan personified:

Integrity is transcendent.

Because at the end of the day basketball is a game, but you can really learn a lot about an athlete you look up to if you look a little deeper.

They can impact you in a positive way off the court as much as they can on it.

Almost as annoying as mentioning Marbury, I feel, is the torment I put myself through in trying to see Allan Houston back in a Knick uniform. With Mobley, according to Berman, contemplating retirement, the Knicks will be in desperate need for a shooter. Here’s what I know:

It’s still a longshot and he’s relatively healed from his quad strain. Enough so to be working out with the team. I saw him the other night working with Jeffries before the game. But I think Donnie Walsh looks at the D-League and does his due diligence.

In looking at the D Legue there are a few interesting names, and remember the Bucks snagged Ramon Sessions from there, so there are some diamonds. Remember that if a player is drafted or signed as FA to an NBA franchise, you have a three year contract but you are only allowed 2 years in the D League and then you can be signed by any team. If you are waived, you are fair game, which we discovered after referring to legal counsel Andrew Smith.

A guy they may took look at is Cedric Bozman, formerly of UCLA, who was one-time property of the Hawks but is not under contract. I have to look up his availability but he’s played well early and was waived by the Hawks in 2007. I also happen to like Brandon Heath, who was waived by the Lakers and who’s impressing early.

If the team is looking for PG help, Walker Russell formerly of Jacksonville State is averaging 13 points and over 8 assists but was never considered a good shooter at the NBA level. And of course, former Knick Frank Williams is always a possibility.

But for me, with the need for shotblocking help, Walsh should look to former Michigan standout Courtney Sims who is eating up the D league early averaging 8 blocks and 14 rebounds.

I still maintain that Ewing Jr. will return in early January when Marbury is cut loose.

Remember for more information on the D League check out Dan Reed’s Blog on NBA.com

Marc Berman is adamant about the fact that Allan Houston is done, but I’m not buying it.

What puzzles me about Berman’s notion is that there is no rush to make a decision on Houston, just like there was no rush to exile Marbury. Apparently he thinks not giving a shooter a chance to make the team over a 5th or 6th guard like Anthony Roberson makes sense.

“…Nobody knows for sure why he attempted a second comeback,” Berman wrote on his blog. “He has never been able to articulate it to where it makes sense…”

I can tell you with great assurance Allan’s comeback has as much to do with helping this team off it as he would on it.  He told me at media day how important he felt restoring the pride of the jersey was to a group that seemed to lose focus on that fact. He, of course, knows performing on the court and leading by example will go a long way in doing that. And if he can’t do that, he’s been guaranteed a front office spot.

He’s not done yet, I believe, because he can still help this team. They have no shooters.

Call it delusional, call it being sentimental, call it whatever you want.  The Knicks are looking to fill needs, and they desperately need a perimeter shooter for a few minutes a night, which is why Houston hasn’t hung them up yet.

I agree, however, that it’s become a tiresome story.

He’s definately a long shot, but he’s not done…yet.

Alan Hahn informs us that Allan Houston will sit tomorrow night and on Friday in Boston due to that pesky quadriceps. This is bad news for Houston who is trying to compete for a roster spot. The injury is not related to his knee, but you have to wonder about H20′s chances now.

There is a chance D’Antoni sticks with him on the roster at the expense of Anthony Roberson, because Houston can still play his way into shape. He’s not a rotation player so there’s little reason to rush him, but if the team suffers an injury to a guard, they may need Roberson to contribute.

You can bet that if he knows he can’t do it, the ever-classy Houston will step aside for the roster sake of a young player, and move into the front office.

This is a few days old but enjoy anyway. Houston looks to be very content and I really think he’s going to make the roster if he remains healthy. Also, TKB will be covering the second week of camp so stay tuned for daily updates and commentary.

We’re with Alan Hahn on this one, we don’t want to beat it to death but…

Houston apparently looked quite fit while playing at Nike Pro City:

“Houston showed glimpses of his old self when he scored five quick points on Artest with a three-pointer in his grill and a blow by for a lay up.”

And by “old self” they must mean…

And of course…

Again, I don’t know if bringing an aging player from the past is a good idea. It wouldn’t exactly make sense from a roster standpoint. But as I said last year, they desperately need a spot shooter, and Houston could give them that in flashes. Would it hamper the development of Gallinari or Chandler? Probably, which was why, in part, Balkman was dealt.

Which makes me think that a H20 comeback is unlikely, but if this organization is staunch about regaining some class, bringing Houston in is the perfect opportunity.