Marc Berman of the New York Post writes that Raptors center Hakeem Olajuwon revealed yesterday he was closer than anyone realized to becoming a Knick last summer. Now Olajuwon is thrilled he nixed the Knicks.

Olajuwon told The Post the Rockets and Knicks had a sign-and-trade worked out in case he tabbed them as his final choice. Toronto won the Olajuwon sweepstakes because the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer sensed the Knicks were in decline and forced Rockets GM Carroll Dawson to trade him there.

Olajuwon said the Knick deal also included fellow Rockets free agent Shandon Anderson for Glen Rice and another Knick. GM Scott Layden and Dawson later worked out a Rice-for-Anderson swap with the Knicks also getting Dallas' Howard Eisley.

"It was close, the deal was real," Olajuwon said. "It was there. It was really a possibility. It could've happened. I gave it serious thought."