Reporters began asking Jermaine O'Neal about the possibility of playing for the Knicks next season following Tuesday's loss to New Jersey.

"The last time I checked, I have five years left on my deal," O'Neal said. "I don't really control where I'm going to play at. I deal with reality, and reality states I have five years left.

"I don't really sit back and think about stuff like that because the task at hand for us is already tough enough to deal with; that's winning playoff games. So I don't sit back and think about where I'm going to play."

1His name will likely continue to be mentioned throughout the summer, but the Pacers say they don't have any intention of trading their All-Star player.

"I hear a lot of talk about it because my brother lives here and he tells me how they say I'm going to play (with the Knicks) next year," O'Neal said. "I'm not a free agent. If I had to make a choice where I'm going to play next year it would be in Indiana because my contract says so."