But as opposed to the two previous season openers when McDyess was three weeks removed from major knee surgery and knew he was facing a long rehabilitation, the veteran power forward says he now "sees the light at the end of the tunnel." In fact, McDyess vowed to return sooner than team doctors and coach Don Chaney expected.

Rookie forward Britton Johnsen will get the nod over Donnell Harvey and start tonight in Orlando's opener in New York against the Knicks.

He joins Tyronn Lue, Tracy McGrady, Drew Gooden, and Juwan Howard in the starting lineup.

Don Chaney warned that Antonio McDyess, who was officially placed on the injured list yesterday, may not come off IR any time soon and will miss more than the requisite first five games.

Scott Layden, the Knicks' president and general manager, was unable to make a deal to find a shooting guard and alleviate the logjam at power forward, despite shopping forward Othella Harrington. The Knicks waived center Travis Knight and Matt Carroll, a shooting guard from Notre Dame. There was no market for Knight, according to several general managers, and the Knicks will probably have to pay his full salary, $4.4 million ? doubled by the luxury tax ? after he clears waivers tomorrow.

The New York Knicks have cut center Travis Knight and guard Matt Carroll in order to get their roster down to the mandatory 15 places, meaning Othella Harrington is still a Knick... for now.

Chicago and Toronto have been in discussions with the Knicks about the disgruntled forward, with the Bulls ready to swoop should Harrington be waived.  Tyronne Hill remains another possibility for Chicago.

The Knicks also added forward Maciej Lampe (shin splints), forward Antonio McDyess (left knee surgery) and center Slavko Vranes (right patella tendinitis) have been placed on the Injured List, meaning each will miss a minimum of five games.

Othella Harrington and Tyrone Hill remain possibilities for the Chicago Bulls.

Harrington depends on whether the Knicks deal him today or buy him out.

Hill is a free agent and could be signed at any time.

"Hill's camp is hoping for more than the veteran's minimum, but the longer Hill remains unsigned, the better the chances for the Bulls."

"According to a person familiar with Layden's thinking, the Knicks are expected to release veteran forward Travis Knight if Layden is unable to orchestrate a trade. Knight is in the final year of his contract and will earn $4.4 million this season. Free-agent guard Matt Carroll would also be released."

Othella Harrington is the player most rumored to be on the block.

The Knicks have 17 guaranteed contracts and need to cut down to 15 by today.

Ask Knicks coach Don Chaney how he feels about the return of a healthy Antonio McDyess and he can't help but smile. It reminds him of the infatuation Boston announcer Tommy Heinsohn has for gung-ho Celtics sub Walter McCarty.

"I looooove Antonio McDyess," says Chaney, mimicking Heinsohn's pet phrase for McCarty. "I sound like Tommy Heinsohn, but I truly love Antonio McDyess. Not just the star but the person. I think he's the most versatile big guy in the game today. I think he can play probably three spots. He's very athletic; he can jump and he can score inside and outside. He can pass; he can guard guys, bigs and smalls. Away from that, I think he's a solid human being."

Antonio McDyess revealed yesterday that he expects to be placed on the injured list tomorrow when rosters are finalized. That will make him ineligible for the first five games, with the earliest he could suit up being Nov. 8 in Milwaukee.

In other disturbing knee-related news, Allan Houston sat out the last half of yesterday's three-hour-plus practice because of soreness in his rehabbing right knee. Houston, who missed six of the eight preseason games, will not be close to 100 percent for the season opener Wednesday if he plays at all.

There is speculation the Knicks may buy out Othella Harrington's contract, which would mean the Bulls can acquire him without making a trade. If that happens, Harrington will replace Linton Johnson on the roster.