There has been much speculation that the New York Knicks will buy oft-injured shooting guard Allan Houston out of his lofty contract exercising the one-time only provision in the new CBA.  However, according to Houston?s agent, William Strickland, has said the sharpshooter has no intention of retiring.

"Given that amnesty provision, it increases the chances that something could happen," Strickland said over the telephone. "But I do not believe that Allan will retire. He's worked too hard to get back. He still wants to play."

Houston will have to prove himself healthy and if he is successful, he could be a good fit for any team in need of a shooting guard off the bench.

Chuck Person, known by many as 'The Rifleman', has officially dropped his "special assistant" tag for the Indiana Pacers and will move to the bench next season as an assistant coach, replacing Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown.

Person played his first six NBA seasons for the Pacers, receiving the Rookie of the Year award in 1987. He has performed a hybrid role the past three years, working with players in individual workouts and assisting CEO Donnie Walsh and team president Larry Bird in the front office.

"Having a chance to work in the front office was a great opportunity, but at the end of the day my heart lies with coaching," Person said. "I'm really looking forward to helping the team move forward."

Carlisle said he had made contact with other candidates, including Kenny Natt, an ex-Pacer who worked on Cleveland's coaching staff last season. Once Carlisle became aware of Person's interest, however, he cut off his search.

"I wasn't sure if Chuck was interested in going to the bench, but about three days ago we had a conversation and he let me and Kevin (O'Neill) know he was very interested in doing it," Carlisle said. "That was great news.

"Chuck knows our team and our players are comfortable with him. It's a ready-made direction to go. I'm really glad the interest was there on his side."

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle hired ?The Rifleman? Chuck Person as his new assistant coach.  Person, formerly a ?special assistant? will now have a seat on the Pacers bench as Mike Brown?s replacement.

Previously, Person performed a hybrid role during the past years, working with players in individual workouts and assisting CEO Donnie Walsh and team president Larry Bird in the front office.

"Having a chance to work in the front office was a great opportunity, but at the end of the day my heart lies with coaching," Person said. "I'm really looking forward to helping the team move forward."

"Chuck knows our team and our players are comfortable with him.?  Said Carlisle.  ?It's a ready-made direction to go. I'm really glad the interest was there on his side."

Mike Brown will be introduced on Thursday morning in a news conference at Gund Arena by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.

"Mike Brown was our first choice and only choice to be the new head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers,'' Gilbert said in an e-mail to the AP. "Mike has learned from the very best in the business. He is focused on the defensive end of the court and I am highly confident he is exactly what the Cavaliers need to move our team to one of the very best in the NBA.''

"It's a great choice,'' Cavaliers guard Eric Snow said by phone on Wednesday. "He's a guy who has worked hard and paid his dues. He's very knowledgeable in the game. It's great that they're giving an opportunity to someone who is very deserving.''