Danilo Gallinari is expected to have minor surgery next week in New York.  

The procedure will involve shaving the bone around a nerve to relieve the pain of a bulging disc.

Mike D'Antoni isn't sleeping as much and his team's poor play has frustrated him, but he still doesn't regret leaving the Suns to coach the Knicks.

"I have no regrets about what we did," D'Antoni said. "I think we're moving in the right direction. The only regret I have, we haven't made the playoffs yet. And that's something that we've got to rectify real quick."

New York currently has 45 losses, just three fewer than Phoenix had in D'Antoni's last two seasons combined.

When asked to assess New York's season recently, coach Mike D'Antoni made no mention of Al Harrington and there is a growing belief that the Knicks could deal him this summer.

Harrington has one year left on his contract, and teams might value the him because he'll come off the books in the famed summer of 2010.

Marc Berman of the New York Post pointed out that Harrington simply hasn't fit into D'Antoni system, which favors players that can distribute the ball and make others better.

The Bobcats won their 33rd game of the season on Saturday night, tying a franchise mark with nine games left in the regular season.

Charlotte defeated New York 96-85 at Time Warner Cable Arena in North Carolina.

Gerald Wallace led the Bobcats with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

Charlotte trails Chicago by 2 1/2 games for the eighth, and final, playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Knicks guard Nate Robinson could receive a suspension from the NBA after he shoved referee Ken Mauer out of the way during an altercation with Chris Paul on Friday night.

The incident took place in the fourth quarter, with both Robinson and Paul drawing technicals fouls.

New York hung on for a home win, but coach Mike D'Antoni realized that Robinson went over the line.

"When you're short and you're a normal person, he has to have some thing extra sometimes to be in the NBA," D'Antoni said. "He goes over the line. He knows that. We talk about it. He apologizes. But it's hard to say to tone it down. It's also something he has to learn to be able to control. He's trying."

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent guard Joe Crawford has been signed to a 10-day contract.

Crawford, a member of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, became the 18th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

Crawford, 6-5, 210-pounds, was selected in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 58th overall pick. The Detroit, MI-native played with the Lakers during the 2008 preseason before being waived on Oct. 22.

Crawford then signed with the NBA Development League?s Los Angeles D-Fenders and averaged 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 43 games.

Demetris Nichols? 10-day contract had expired and the club elected not to re-sign him. The Knicks roster stands at 14 players.

Knicks center Eddy Curry could return to the court on Friday night against the Hornets after battling both injury and personal tragedy this season.

"He looked a little livelier today, his knees are feeling pretty good," coach Mike D'Antoni said after practice on Thursday. "Hopefully he can get into the action soon."

Curry played less than three minutes against the Mavericks in January, his only action of the season thus far.

"I'll be very happy to see him out there. He definitely wants to play, because for the first time in the past few weeks he's been saying he wants to get out there," Al Harrington said.

Joe Crawford, who was selected by the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Draft with a second round pick, will be called-up to the New York Knicks, according to multiple sources.  He will apparently take the place of another D-League call-up, Demetris Nichols.

Crawford, a 6'5", 210 pound shooting guard, has been very solid, though rarely spectacular, for the Los Angeles D-Fenders' this season, averaging 20.8 points, 4.6 boards and 2.7 assists in 43 games (42 starts).

The Knicks are not expected to sign Demetris Nichols to a contract for the remainder of the when his second 10-day contract expires, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

Danilo Gallinari talked to the media after three back specialists in Italy agreed that he could either continue resting his back or have minor surgery to relieve the pain that has ailed him this season.  

"That's the good thing, that everybody said the same thing," Gallinari said. "I was happy for that because if they all said different things, I'd be more worried."

Gallinari also reflected on his rookie season.

"I think it was a real good experience and real good year," he said. "Without considering surgery and without considering all the games I didn't play, it was a good year. I came here new, and basketball, I liked it a lot. So I'm happy to be here and get experience."

Mike D'Antoni answered a question on how he views Gallinari's first season in the NBA.

"I think the year is with a question mark, but I think the player is no question mark," D'Antoni said. "There?s no doubt he?ll be a good player. Whether he played 28, 40, 80 [games], he?s a very experienced, smart, savvy, great shooter, better defender than what we thought and really the only question mark I had on him was can he defend and he?s shown that.

"The only thing now is to get his back well and get his body built up and instead of him being 20 years old, let?s get him to be 23. So a little bit of patience with him, but I am happy with what he did, what he?s shown and what he?ll do. It?s a pretty solid pick. I?m happy with it."