Allan Houston Mulls Comeback

[orangedays]

HOU MULLS COMEBACK
By MARC BERMAN

April 14, 2006 -- Cavaliers 91 Knicks 87

CLEVELAND - Retired former Knick Allan Houston joined the team here yesterday to help out Larry Brown, but he sounded more intrigued about playing again than coaching.

Houston, who retired during training camp because of arthritic knees, said he's unsure he wants to get involved in coaching because it's "time-consuming." However, Houston said for the first time he wasn't closing the door to a return, however unlikely.

Houston, with his medical retirement, wouldn't be able to play again until his contract expires after next season, when he will be 36. Houston said his knees feel better and he would play for the minimum.

"Don't think it's something I haven't thought about," said Houston, who is more likely to join the front office.

Brown hinted he'd like to see Houston join the coaching family next season.

"We're trying to have him around, slowly working himself in," Brown said. "The more older guys we get back here, the better."

You can't blame Brown for this one. The Knicks' 91-87 loss to the Cavaliers, in which they blew a seven-point lead in the final minutes, was overshadowed by Brown leaving for the locker room with 3:06 left in the third quarter after a bout of nausea during a timeout. The Knicks were up 10 at the time.

Brown threw the reins over to top assistant Herb Williams, who nearly was retained as head coach last summer. Brown, 65, plans to have surgery one week after the season ends for a bladder problem and had chest pains in March, but this was not serious, a spokesman said.

Rookie Nate Robinson, stepping in for ailing Steve Francis (back spasms), scored 19 of the Knicks' first 27 points and had 21 by halftime. Robinson finished with a career-high-tying 32 but failed defensively in the clutch.

The Cavaliers' LeBron James sat out with a sprained ankle.

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He's probably going front-office. But hell, if he's still got 1/2 of his shot left, I wouldn't mind bringing Houston on for the vet minimum.