During the offseason, Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said, it's Larry Johnson's habit to go "deep underground." So the lack of communication between coach and co-captain this summer is nothing unusual. But if Johnson were going to retire when training camp opens Tuesday, as some reports have suggested, Van Gundy said, "He would have called me if he wasn't going to be ready."

Larry Johnson has to feel mighty unwelcome in New York. Yesterday's papers all but gave him the same "Good Riddance" they gave Patrick Ewing upon his trade to Seattle.

Knicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy is still counting LJ playing this season, according to the New York Times. "I'm expecting him to be ready," said Van Gundy, who has not spoken with Johnson during the off-season. "He would've called me if he wasn't going to be ready."

However, the New York Post reports that several people close to Johnson said that he is still mulling retirement. Because of chronic back pain, Johnson feels he can no longer be a full-time player. The Post also says that yesterday's report of a $14 million buyout was deemed "ludicrous" by one source.

"I know how team-oriented Larry is," Van Gundy said. "Larry has never been hard for me. I'm not anticipating any problems. If he was contemplating some career change, I'd be shocked if he hadn't called me."

If this is a time for jaunty optimism, a time to look forward with renewed faith in the possibilities, then you've come to the wrong coach.

The New York Daily News reports that both the Knicks and Nets have talked to the Denver Nuggets about a possible deal to acquire the former St. John's point guard.

Cook has become expendable in Denver since the Nuggets acquired the rights to Kenny Satterfield from Dallas last week. The move came largely because Cook and the Nuggets were at an impasse in contract talks. Cook wanted a two-year guarantee similar to fellow second-round pick Gilbert Arenas, but the Nuggets balked.

Two NBA sources, though, said last night that the Nets are "the frontrunner" for Cook at the moment and perhaps could trade a future pick and an unspecified amount of cash for Cook, who was selected in the second round (32nd overall) by Orlando before being dealt to Denver.

They didn't even get a sniff at Chris Webber. They didn't get another prominent rebounding, low-post force. They didn't give their faithful fans much reason to hope this season will be any more cheery than the last one when the Raptors rudely dispatched the Knicks in the first round.

With Scott Layden looking to add another big man with his $2.9 million injury exception, the Knick GM cast doubt on Larry Johnson's future yesterday, refusing to say whether the back-impaired forward will play for the Knicks this season.

Every major New York paper is reporting basically the same thing: Scott Layden speaks of Larry Johnson in the past tense and it seems the Knicks would love nothing more than to give him a one-way ticket out of New York.

The gist of the story seems to be this: The Knicks have offered Johnson a $14 million buyout, or roughly half of the $28 million remaining on his contract. For obvious reasons, Johnson is balking. The New York Post reports that the Knicks could decide to simply waive Johnson or banish him to the injured list.

In other Knick news, Layden said he's working the phones in an effort to use their expiring $2.8 Disabled Player Exception. The Post speculates that the Knicks may work a deal which includes Othella Harrington or Charlie Ward. The primary target, Marc Jackson, signed an offer sheet with Houston instead. The Bergen Record reports that the Knicks have no interest in Anthony Mason or Chris Gatling.

Elsewhere, Scott Burrell has reneged on an agreement with New York and appears bound for Miami or Charlotte. That means New York could potentially add another swingman, for reasons unbeknownst to all. The names of Mario Elie, David Benoit, Doug West and Jim Jackson have surfaced.

There's a case of buyout frenzy in the NBA. Two days after agreeing to buyout terms with center Luc Longley, the Knicks are reportedly trying to buy out the final 3 seasons of Larry Johnson's contract, according to the AP.

Johnson is due to make $28.8 million over the next three seasons, with the Knicks holding an option to pay him $6.9 million in 2004-05. A source close to Johnson told The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity, that the Knicks have offered about $14 million -- roughly half of what Johnson is owed, but not in a lump sum.

Center Felton Spencer, who made 18 token appearances with the Knicks last season, re-signed with New York on Friday.

Now that the Knicks are armed with a Disabled Player Exception worth about $2.8 million, the Knicks are reaching out to Warriors free agent Marc Jackson according to the Bergen County Record. The shot clock is running out for the Knicks, however. They have until 12:00PM on Monday to use the exception or lose it.

League sources confirmed Thursday that the Knicks contacted Jackson and would be willing to use the disabled player exception to sign the burly forward/center to a multiyear deal. One source said he wouldn't be surprised if Jackson became a Knick. But a few things stand in New York's way of getting something done.