Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports that the Knicks will be holding on to Latrell Sprewell? for a while. After almost being traded to the Bucks for Glenn Robinson earlier this summer, Sprewell will come into training camp with the Knicks.

According to a friend who spoke to Sprewell within the last two weeks, Sprewell said he was excited about playing for his hometown Bucks. He also laughed at the irony of the Knicks trading him to finally add size to their roster. "He thought it was a done deal," the friend said. "He was ready to move on."

Sprewell had lobbied for the Knicks to add frontcourt size for two seasons and in the trade that fell through, they would have added a forward in Robinson and a legitimate center in Earvin Johnson.

But Sprewell is back - perhaps until the February trading deadline - and no one can honestly predict how Sprewell will react and perform for an organization that tried so vigorously to trade him.

"It's not that we're just trying to get rid of him," coach Don Chaney said Friday. "I think he understands that one of the reasons why he, and not only Spree, is included in trades is that somebody out there thinks you're a pretty good player. At the same time, coming off a subpar year, as a player you have to understand there are going to be changes and he's mature enough to understand that.

"The one thing about him, which is different from a lot of NBA players, is that he has an unbelievable amount of maturity when it comes to the business of the game. He's not afraid of being traded. Naturally, he would love to be in New York. He made additions on his house. But I think he's one of those guys, if he's traded, he's traded. He knows that it is beyond his control. He also understands that this is a business."

Mark Spears of the Denver Post reports that The Denver Nuggets are expected to buy point guard Mark Jackson out of his contract as early as today.

"That's the way we are heading," said Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe, when asked about the possibility. "I understand Mark's perspective. It will allow us a little more flexibility. Mark is a very good friend of mine, I have a lot of respect for him and I would have enjoyed him being around him this year. But I definitely understand."

Jackson came to the Nuggets as part of the trade with the Knicks that brought Marcus Camby and Nene Hilario to Denver. Since the trade, Jackson has expressed reservations about playing in Denver. He would prefer to for a playoff contender this late in his career Vandeweghe had negotiations with Jackson?s agent, Arn Tellem on Thursday and could announce a buyout agreement as early as today.

Jackson is slated to make $4.2 million this season and $4.5 million during the 2003-04 season (which includes a $2.25 million buyout option). Jackson and Tellem could not be reached for comment.

If he is bought out, Jackson will be placed on waivers. After he clears waivers, he will be an unrestricted free agent. The Utah Jazz, looking for a veteran backup to John Stockton, are reportedly interested in signing Jackson if he clears waivers.  

Without Jackson, the Nuggets are left with two true point guards in second-year Kenny Satterfield and rookie Junior Harrington, who has an unguaranteed contract. Swingman George McCloud has seen a lot of action at point guard for Denver. Also, NBA free-agent veteran point guard Darrick Martin is expected to be in training camp, which begins Tuesday. Other free-agent point guards still available include Rod Strickland, ex-Nugget Robert Pack, Greg Anthony, Mookie Blaylock, Damon Jones, Rafer Alston and Dana Barros.

The Associated Press reports that Patrick Ewing is happy to be coaching in Washington. And that he will suit up if needed. Ewing was introduced as the Wizards? new assistant coach today in a press conference.

"This is one of the hardest decisions that I've ever had to make. I'm still torn," Ewing said Wednesday, 24 hours after his retirement announcement in New York. Yesterday, I was so happy to get that press conference over with, and it took me forever to say that I'm retiring from playing. I've been playing basketball so long, and I still enjoy doing it," he said.

Ewing admitted that if Washington needed an extra center during the season, he might consider playing again -- especially if Wizards owner Abe Pollin tried to induce him. "I'm here as an assistant coach. (But) if Mr. Pollin comes to me and says, 'Here's a 10-day (contract),' I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth," Ewing said.

Wizards coach Doug Collins said that Ewing came to coach -- not play. "When you've played for 17 years, you can go through withdrawals," he said. "If he can be teaching, the transition is going to be much easier."

Mike Wise of the New York Times remembers that for most of his career, Patrick Ewing would wrap up a game by standing in front of his locker and proclaim, "I?m done, fellas". Today, the man whom Willis Reed called the greatest player in Knicks history is indeed done, retiring after an often-magnificent and often-maligned career.

Ewing, who is largely responsible for the resurgence of Knicks? basketball will announce his retirement in a Manhattan hotel at noon today. Wise writes that the 40-year old Ewing is making the right decision. After all of his successes, he has deteriorated to nothing more than a role-player now, chasing that elusive NBA title.

"His career defines his greatness," the former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said nearly two years ago. "There's nothing I can say more about his greatness than what everyone saw on the floor.

"He came to win. He came to practice every day to win, and I think that's probably what I admire about him most. His stubbornness, a great trait when kept in the right proportion, helped him believe in himself when others may have doubted him, particularly early in his career. High school, coming out of college, people said what he could and couldn't do. He kept developing because he had great belief in himself."

The New York Knicks chose Ewing with the first pick in the 1985 draft. In fifteen seasons with the Knicks, Ewing led New York to 668 wins and to the playoffs 13 times. For his Knicks career, Ewing averaged 22.8 points and 10.4 rebounds. He averaged more than 20 points a game until his last two years with the Knicks; he spent those seasons trying to mesh with Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby. Since his departure before the 2000-01 season, they have yet to get out of the first round.

Afternoon Update: At a news conference, Patrick Ewing said "It's time to move on," "It was a great ride.

"I'm disappointed that I never won a championship -- in the pros, I've got to add that. But I'm at peace."

Ewing said he has been hired as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards, meaning he will be on a team with the player who often denied him his shot at an NBA title: Michael Jordan.

Jordan led to the Chicago Bulls to six championships, knocking off the Knicks in the playoffs in four of those seasons.