HoopsHype.com Rumors

The new agreement is expected to have some variation of the "Allan Houston Amnesty," which in the current CBA allowed for a team to cut a player without that salary counting against the luxury tax. Ironically the New York Knicks used this one-time cost saver on Jerome Williams instead of Houston. The players still get paid which is why it's favorable to the union. The owners gain flexibility and save money. It's a win-win. Word is there may be another amnesty clause (even possibly two) in the new deal, with the money not only coming off the tax but the cap as well. Notice all the trade proposals flying around the internet and radio? The Lakers should take on the contract of Gilbert Arenas to entice the Magic to deal Howard? An amnesty clause would change that significantly. HoopsWorld

CBA, Allan Houston, Salary Cap, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Owners 

With the Heat flexing its starpower in the Eastern Conference playoffs, it's a reminder the Knicks seem to be at least one superstar short of competing against a team that figures to be a powerhouse for the next five years. Assistant GM Allan Houston said the Knicks, who are interested in adding Chris Paul or Dwight Howard via trade or in next year's free agency, have a fluid offseason strategy, subject to changes in the CBA and elsewhere. The Heat hit the free-agent lotto last year. The Knicks are playing the numbers for 2012 while strapping on a parachute. "I don't think you can look at one team and say that's what the standard model should be because it usually doesn't work that way," Houston said Saturday at the draft combine at the Nets' practice facility. "You have to take what you have and you have a plan, but things change quickly. New York Daily News

Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Free Agency, Draft, Trade, Chris Paul, Allan Houston, Dwight Howard 

Tommy Beer: Allan Houston, on WFAN this morning, confirmed that Ronny Turiaf was unavilable late in 4th quarter of Game 2 Twitter

New York Knicks, Allan Houston, Ronny Turiaf, Injuries 

The bigger question is, who would be that successor? Allan Houston, the assistant GM, may make a good front man one day and recently- hired Mark Warkentien has the proven ability to handle the behind-the-scenes work. But you have to believe Houston and Warkentien would prefer to have Walsh around to oversee and advise, if anything just to figure out what do to with all these people -- Glen Grunwald, John Gabriel, Misho Ostarcevic, Jamie Mathews, Mark Hughes and, of course, Rodney Heard -- in the front office. Newsday

New York Knicks, Mark Warkentien, Allan Houston, Donnie Walsh, Rodney Heard 

Asked if he is concerned about the status of the person who hired him, D’Antoni said: "Not really. That’s something he’ll take care of, management will take care of and it will work its way out. I got so many other problems I don’t…I need to worry about the rebounding and stuff like that. You do your job and hang in there and it usually works for everybody." Despite Walsh having rebuilt the Knicks and restored credibility to the organization there is no guarantee that Dolan, the Garden Chairman, will pick up the fourth year option on Walsh’s contract before the April 30th deadline. There is increasing speculation that Isiah Thomas may still return, presumably in the role of consultant, and that Walsh will be replaced perhaps by current assistant GM Allan Houston. Both Thomas and Houston are close to Dolan. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Allan Houston, Isiah Thomas 

A self-styled hoops guru is suing Knicks great Allan Houston, saying he ruined his chances to land a coaching job with the team through years of trash talk. Arthur Rondeau, a "peak performance coach" who takes credit for guiding the sharp-shooting guard out of a slump during the Knicks' run to the 1999 NBA Finals, says Houston broke a promise to help him get a job with the Knicks or other NBA teams. "In several instances, Houston, and/or those acting on his behalf, interceded to frustrate Rondeau's pursuit of NBA-related peak-performance coaching work and to ensure that Rondeau did not receive favorable press coverage of his prior opportunities with Houston," says the suit. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Allan Houston 

Knicks assistant general manager Allan Houston won the vote for Player of the Decade for 2000-09 and will be honored Feb. 23 at halftime. The decade featured nine straight losing seasons. "The fact we can even have an award speaks for the history of the franchise," Houston said. New York Post

New York Knicks, Allan Houston 

Allan Houston was upgraded to assistant general manager after recently signing a two-year contract to remain in the Knicks' front office. Houston previously worked under the title of special assistant to the president after being appointed by Donnie Walsh on Nov. 7, 2008. "It goes back to what I said when I first gave him the job; I think he's a great candidate to become a GM someday,'' Walsh told Newsday in a phone interview before last night's game against the Timberwolves. Newsday

New York Knicks, Allan Houston, Donnie Walsh 

The speculation is that Houston, 39, one day will be GM of this franchise. Walsh, who currently holds that title along with team president, has one year left on his contract, plus a team option for 2011-12 that must be picked up in April. Houston had the option to sign for three years but decided to take two years to mirror Walsh's deal. If Walsh retires at the end of his contract, Houston undoubtedly will be a candidate to run the team, but others likely also will be considered. Newsday

New York Knicks, Allan Houston, Donnie Walsh 

Knicks executive Allan Houston told The Post Amar'e Stoudemire's arrival has meant to the franchise as much as when the club won the 1985 Draft Lottery and Patrick Ewing came onto the scene to revive a dead team. New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Allan Houston 

The Post has learned Houston was recently granted a new title of assistant general manager after his contract expired last month. The assistant GM title replaces his nebulous moniker of assistant to team president Donnie Walsh. New York Post

New York Knicks, Allan Houston, Donnie Walsh 

Mullin, out of Queens, spent Friday draining 3-pointers during a showcase on the famed Piazza del Duomo in the center of town for the NBA fanfest. Mullin said he has no immediate plans to get back as a team executive. Certainly, according to family members, he would love a crack at the Knicks, who've had him on their radar for nearly three years. Mullin is close with Walsh and there's no doubt the Knicks president would like to see him or Allan Houston become his successor. "I'm doing a lot for the NBA, taking trips, it's been great,'' Mullin said. "If the right situation comes up, I would definitely look at it. I'm not struggling with what I'm doing. I'm pretty happy. I have no time frame on that.'' New York Post

Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Allan Houston 

Chris Broussard: Spent day at Allan Houston's "Father Knows Best" camp. Awesome time! Twitter

Allan Houston 

A person with close ties to the franchise said that Houston, 39, is “being groomed to take over” when Walsh retires. There are two years left on Walsh’s contract — including a team option in 2011-12 — and Walsh said he intends to fulfill them. As for Houston some day succeeding him, Walsh said the subject has never been discussed and there was no arrangement in place. “I’m grooming Allan to become a general manager, whether it’s with the Knicks or elsewhere,” he said. New York Times

Former New York Knicks shooting guard Allan Houston is the front-runner to be the team's next general manager under team president Donnie Walsh, according to league sources. Walsh would neither confirm nor deny Houston's status. "He is working with me to learn the position of GM, whether with the Knicks or elsewhere," Walsh said. "I feel Allan has the tools to be a great GM." ESPN.com

Allan Houston, a key member of the Knicks' recruiting team, says it's no time to mourn the loss of LeBron James. It's the Knicks job now to knock out the James-led Heat like he once did with a lovely series-winning runner in the lane in the 1999 playoffs. "It's now over," Houston told The Post. "New Yorkers are strong. They'll pull together enough to realize it's over. Now our job is to beat them -- not to worry about why he didn't make the decision for New York." The Knicks could face the Heat in the first round in another 1-vs.-8 matchup, like 1999. Houston has no grudges that James spurned the Knicks and did it from the town he lives -- Greenwich, Conn. New York Post

New York Knicks, LeBron James, Allan Houston 

Knicks officials have weighed the pros and cons of putting the full-court press on James in recent days, but sources said team executive Allan Houston spoke with James by phone as the sought-after free agent got closer to making a decision this week. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported via Twitter that team president Donnie Walsh dispatched Hall of Famer and former Knicks president Isiah Thomas to Akron, Ohio, this week to make one more plea for James to join the Knicks. CBSSports.com

New York Knicks, Free Agency, LeBron James, Allan Houston, Donnie Walsh 

Frank Isola: Can't confirm this but a Knicks source claims the location may be Allan Houston's house. Wow Twitter

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Allan Houston 

Houston is considered a key figure because of his connection with the Knicks and ability to speak on the team's glorious past, according to a source. D'Antoni had a good feeling about James' intentions when he spent a lot of time with him during the Summer Olympics two years ago. But a lot has happened since, and the Knicks are consensus underdogs to land James, with the Bulls, because of their $31 million of cap space and deeper corps, emerging as favorites if he leaves Cleveland. New York Post

New York Knicks, Free Agency, LeBron James, Allan Houston