The New York Post is reporting that tomorrow will be Patrick Ewing's retirement ceremony, and the future Hall of Famer will finally be getting his wish.

Marc Berman writes that Ewing asked for Jeff Van Gundy, David Checketts, Ernie Grunfeld and Doug Collins all to be on the court with him on his special moment, only to be told by Garden president Steve Mills that it probably wont happen.  The Knicks seemingly have a vendetta against former coach Van Gundy, the Knicks refusing to let Van Gundy run the Yao Ming workout last May and have made it clear they would want serious compensation if he tried to get another coaching job.

While there was speculation the plan was to keep Van Gundy from getting an ovation from the crowd in his first appearance at a Knick game since his resignation that stung the brass last season, all that seems to have changed with Mills telling Ewing that the arrangements he requested have been taken care of.

"Steve spoke to Patrick this afternoon," Garden spokesman Barry Watkins said. "He's worked everything out to ensure anyone Patrick wants represented on the floor will be by his side."

With the New York Knicks ready to tackle the New Jersey Nets tonight, Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell apparently is ready to seek out Nets coach Byron Scott and get some answers face to face.  Sprewell, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, is upset at comments Scott made last week about his work habits, comments Sprewell says made Scott look "bad."

"I don't hold anything against him," Sprewell said. "I may even ask him why he said it. I'm going to play hard and help us win but it's not going to have anything to do with the comments he made."

When asked if he would like to acquire Sprewell, Scott replied "I don't like guys who are on their own time. Spree comes to practice when he wants to, comes to games when he wants to. I give him credit that he plays hard. But that is a bad example you are setting for the rest of your team."

The comments caught Sprewell by complete surpise, stating he hasn't done anything to Scott to provoke such a verbal assault on himself.  He also said it wasn't something that he would let get to him.

"It wasn't something I was totally offended by," said Sprewell. "He doesn't know me. He hasn't coached me. He doesn't know anything about the way I play and the way I practice. I think the comments make him look bad."

"Frankly, I've never said anything negative about him. For him to come out and try to rip me, it was a little immature. He's a guy that has played before. That's just not something I would expect from a guy like him."

It is not the first time Scott has had some strong comments about the Knicks, back in October questioning New York's decision to play forward Antonio McDyess extended minutes during the preseason.  McDyess, coming off a serious knee injury, suffered another season-ending injury after damaging his kneecap.

When asked about Sprewell, Knicks GM Don Chaney said: "He has a lot of pride, I can say that. That's why sometimes you have to be very careful. Sometimes your comments can motivate other teams and other players, so you have to be very careful. Sprewell has a lot of pride."

According to a report from Marc Berman in the New York Post Sprewell is relieved to still be playing his home games in the Garden, but he did admit that the rumors of the Lakers perhaps being interested in his services did catch his attention.

"I probably had that thought in my head, because the only thing you want to play for in this game is the chance to win a championship," Sprewell said. "But my heart is here in New York, and I'm happy that I get a chance to keep playing ball here."

Among the numerous invitees to longtime Knicks center Patrick Ewing's uniform-number retirement ceremony in New York on Friday night are teammates from his 1992 gold medal-winning Olympic "Dream Team," including Karl Malone and John Stockton of the Jazz.
     
Those two won't make it, however, as Utah plays in Philadelphia on Friday.

Kings center Vlade Divac said he thinks point guard Milos Vujanic, the Knicks' 2002 second-round draft pick, could start right away for Don Chaney's club next season.

"No question," said Divac, president of Vujanic's club team in Yugoslavia, Partizann. "The Knicks need that kind of player."

Comparing him to Steve Nash and calling him "the steal of the draft", Divac isn't holding his breath Vujanic will stay in Yugoslavia.

"I'd love to keep him there; our success lies on his game. But if he asked me as a friend, I'd advise him to come after this year," Divac said.

Marc Berman writes that the Knicks expect Vujanic, averaging 25.8 points, will join them next season, though he has said several times he hasn't made his final decision. He's making only $100,000 in Yugoslavia and would have to pay off the team, but the fee may be picked up by the Knicks.

Marc Berman reports that not only were most of Patrick Ewing's prominent Knick teammates, his past Knick coaches and Knick GMs invited for his jersey retirement ceremony Friday night, but so were Ewing's compadres on the 1992 "Dream Team" that stormed Barcelona.

Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullin and Magic Johnson represent the retirees from the Olympic Dream Team that struck gold with an 8-0 record. The still-active players are David Robinson, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Christian Laettner. Chuck Daly was the coach. The Jazz and Blazers have games scheduled that night, so Stockton, Malone and Pippen can't be there.

The RSVP date was last Wednesday, but the Knicks management still has not released a final guest list.

The trade deadline may have passed but the fun certainly hasn't, with some of the close-but-no-cigar scenarios coming into the public.

Chris McCosky of The Detroit News writes that the San Antonio Spurs inquired on the status of Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell, hoping that he could have been acquired cheaply.  If acquired Sprewell would have been re-united with assistant coach PJ Carlesimo, whom he choked while the duo were in Golden State.

A three-team deal was briefly discussed: Steve Smith and Malik Rose would have gone to the Sixers, who would have sent Keith Van Horn to the Knicks, with Sprewell going to the Spurs.

The Spurs cooled on the idea quickly when Popovich realized that by trading Rose, he would be left with Kevin Willis and Mengke Bateer as his backups to Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

The deal would have also voided their cap room that they are hoping to use on Jason Kidd during the offseason.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports: New York's 2002 second-round draft pick Milos Vujanic might not be joining the Knicks next season after all.

The 6-2, 190-pound point guard, who is still the leading scorer in Europe, averaging 25.8 points per game, might decide to play one more year overseas.

"I want to play in New York but at this moment I can't guarantee 100%," Vujanic said over the telephone from his home in Yugoslavia. "It's only the middle of February. I'm thinking about my club right now. I'll have to see how things go in New York. My goal is to be in the NBA and play in New York but right now I don't know.

"But I'm very happy that people in New York are interested in me. I've had calls from fans in New York. But I'm focused on my team."

One factor in Vujanic coming or not is the Knicks logjam at the point guard position where they have Charlie Ward, Howard Eisley, and Frank Williams.

However, Scott Layden, the Knicks president, met with Vujanic last month in Yugoslavia and the Knicks remain optimistic that he will join them next season.

Ohm Youngmisuk reports Knicks GM Scott Layden made a rare critical remark yesterday and it was aimed at Byron Scott.

"All I can say is he's one of those guys that I just hope keeps talking because, sooner or later, he'll step into one of the by-products of his comments," Layden told WFAN radio in response to Scott's remarks about Latrell Sprewell.

Scott said he had no response to Layden's remarks.

Marc Berman reminds us that today is the RSVP date for those invited to Patrick Ewing's retirement ceremony - to be held in nine days when the Knicks host Orlando.

Most of the Big Fella's prominent ex-teammates have been invited, but evidently Larry Johnson won't be rushing to the Garden. The Knicks said they haven't heard from LJ, but according to his agent, George Bass, Johnson instead will be visiting Charlotte.

LJ's absence should not be taken as an insult to Ewing. LJ has repeatedly blown off the Knicks since his career ended abruptly in a contract buyout before last season - and brass is mystified, even a little crushed.

Johnson has no ill will toward the team for which he served as emotional leader from 1996 to 2001, the organization contends. In fact, The Post has learned that when Knicks brass offered to plan an elaborate "LJ Farewell Night" last season, the former co-captain (with Ewing) declined the offer.

"He didn't want the attention," Bass said. "It was nothing against the Knicks. He's a real quiet person. He doesn't like a lot of attention brought to him."

Johnson, whose career was cut short by chronic back and knee soreness, lives in Dallas, but didn't attend either game when the Knicks came to town during the past two seasons. Not one of his former teammates has spoken with Johnson since the buyout, and Johnson has yet to speak publicly about his retirement.

Chris Broussard reports that Layden offered Charlie Ward and Kurt Thomas to the Seattle SuperSonics today for Gary Payton, according to high-ranking officials with three different teams. There were other minor parts included in the proposal, but the major components were Ward, Thomas and the 34-year-old Payton.

Seattle, whom the Knicks visit on Wednesday, did not hesitate in balking at the offer.