Antonio Davis, who initially was so opposed to coming to New York, says he likes working with the team's young players so much, he would love to come back to play here next year.

"I can envision that," he said. "My thing is realizing where I can help and what my role is going to be. I'd love to be around these guys -- David (Lee), Channing (Frye), Jamal (Crawford) and Eddy (Curry) -- another year or two, because they keep me young. They make me feel good."

Now the undeclared captain of the team and a vital component of Larry Brown's rotation, Davis was crushed by the Oct. 3 trade that brought him to the Knicks along with Curry for Michael Sweetney, Tim Thomas, Jermaine Jackson and the Knicks' No. 1 (lottery?) pick this year. He even hoped the Knicks would release him so he could re-sign with the Bulls.