Allan Houston Retiring???

Isiah Thomas is not convinced Allan Houston will ever be an All-Star caliber player again and hinted that early retirement is an option Houston may want to consider.

Thomas, the Knicks president, didn't totally dismiss the idea of Houston hanging them up before his contract, which runs through the 2006-07 season, expires. Asked during a conference call yesterday if Houston's condition - chronic knee pain - could reach a point where the Knicks ask their veteran shooting guard to retire, Thomas said: "I think Allan has to make the decision himself in terms of retiring. That's a question that only the player can answer. That's probably a good question for you to ask him. As an organization we'll continue to support him and try to help him overcome his injuries."


Houston has missed the last three games due to a sore left knee but is expected to play tomorrow night against the Cavaliers. That same injury sidelined Houston for nine months, including last year's playoff series against New Jersey as well as the first 18 games of the 2004-05 season. In the 20 games Houston has appeared in, he has struggled to run and jump and looks nothing like the Knick who was once regarded as an elite player at his position.


"I think we all hope that he can get back to being Allan," Thomas said. "But I think realistically we may all have to come to the conclusion that he may not ever get there again and we may have to start dealing with that reality."


The Knicks did not practice yesterday and Houston was unavailable for comment. On Tuesday, Houston was aware of comments Thomas made on Michael Kay's radio show on ESPN during which he also alluded to Houston's best days being behind him.


Houston appeared disappointed by Thomas' evaluation but declined to comment. He did, however, say that he had no intentions of retiring and that he is confident he will be a productive player again. Houston's agent, William Strickland, said yesterday that he and his client have never discussed retirement.


"It has never been a thought in our minds," Strickland said. "I will only say that I know it's been Allan's desire to return to the floor at a level of play he feels comfortable with. He has considerable belief and faith in himself."


Houston, who signed a team record six-year, $100 million contract after the 2001 season, will earn $17.5 million this year, $19.1 million next year and $20.7 million in 2006-07.


Should Houston retire, his contract would still count against the salary cap unless the Knicks could prove he suffered a career-ending injury. Theoretically, the Knicks could have the last year of Houston's contract removed from their books, which wouldn't necessarily put them under the cap.


In many ways, Thomas has already moved on from looking at Houston as the Knicks starting shooting guard. Last summer, Thomas acquired Jamal Crawford in a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls. Crawford, who signed a seven-year, $56 million contract, is the team's second leading scorer but he is shooting 39% and his shot selection has baffled the team.

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER





Lets all sign a petition to convince him to retire!

F*** you. I hope my cuz don't retire. Bad knees and he still shoot better than 97% of the league.

Undeterred by suggestions from Isiah Thomas to the contrary, Knicks guard Allan Houston stated emphatically Thursday that he is not considering retiring and is confident that someday his ailing left knee will be healthy enough again for him to play at the high level he once achieved.

"The only retiring I'm going to do is when I go to bed tonight at 11 o'clock," Houston joked after Thursday's practice.

Houston practiced after sitting out the last three games to rest his knee, but was unsure if he'll be able to play in tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Garden. A media horde awaited him following statements Wednesday by Thomas, the team president, hinting that Houston might consider retiring because his knee was not improving.

Thomas also said it might be time to accept that Houston might not ever "get back to being Allan."

"I think realistically we may all have to come to the conclusion that he may never get there again and we may have to start dealing with that reality," said Thomas, whose team has lost seven in a row and 11-of-12.

Houston, 33, made it clear that neither of those thoughts have entered his mind.

"I can't control what people say or what they think," he said. "I can control me and I can control what I believe and what I know, and I know that there will be a time when I'll be back healthy.

"Therefore I don't worry about people doubting me. I don't worry about retirement talk. I don't worry about that because I know what's going to happen."

Houston is suffering from patellofemoral arthritis in his left knee, a degenerative condition resulting from wear and tear of the cartilage between the kneecap and the thigh bone. It caused him to miss all but nine of the final 35 games of last season and New York's four playoff games. He sat out the first 18 games this season before returning Dec. 10 at Washington.

The injury was thought to be a product of overcompensating for his right knee, on which he had microfracture surgery two years ago. It can be aggravated by trauma, such as when Houston banged both knees on the floor Jan. 19 at Toronto. He has not played since.

Thomas met with Houston in the morning to explain his remarks. They might be interpreted as the start of an effort to get rid of Houston and the two years and $39.8 million remaining on his contract after this season, for which he is earning $17.5 million. If Houston were to retire, his contract would still count against the salary cap unless the team could prove he had suffered a career-ending injury.

Houston chose not to search for darker motives.

"I think Isiah just doesn't want people to expect too much," said Houston, who has averaged 11.9 points and 26.6 minutes in 20 games this season. "I've been going through a lot with the injury and I think that people, not really understanding what I've been going through, they're going to expect a lot out of me. I expect a lot out of myself."

Houston said he intends to play through the end of his contract, at the very least.

"Oh yeah. Right now I'm just trying to get over this little hurdle," Houston said. "I know I can be healthy again, so, at that point, I just want to continue to play. I love the game too much. I feel like I can help us or help anybody, and that's really what it comes down to. Ultimately, I just believe it's going to continue to get better."

he aint gonna retire hes gonna milk every dime from that huge contract he got

Retire Now....please!!!!