Frank Isola of the New York Daily News says that Larry Johnson and Knicks management met last week to discuss the possibility of LJ's retirement. Johnson, 32, has been suffering from chronic back pain that caused him to miss the end of the regular season and the entire first round against Toronto.

Isola writes that the Knicks are hoping to receive a Disabled Player Exception in the event of Johnson's retirement. Don't count on that. Ask the Nets how difficult it is to receive one of those. Timing is everything, and the time has passed for New York.