Houstion invited to Knicks Training Camp

According to the New York Post, Allan Houston will be at the Knicks’ training campwhen it opens next Tuesday in Saratoga, New York.

Houston, 37, will be attempting his 739th comeback from multiple knee injuries. His last regular season game came in the 2004-05 season when his season and career was cut short from microfracture knee surgery.

Since the surgery, Houston has never given up on his playing career and has been talking about coming back and playing ever year. Last preseason, he came to Knicks training camp late. He ended up only lasting one week and playing in only one preseason game. In all fairness, he arrived late because he was awaiting the birth of his daughter and he really didn’t give himself much of a shot.

I find Houston’s attempted comeback intriguing on a couple of different fronts:

1. Houston has more than enough money to support himself and his family, yet he is battling everyday to put himself in position to play on the highest level there is. I commend him for his dedication and extraordinary effort to do something he, obviously, must truly love. I am confident that 98% of the players in the NBA would not have the strength to try and do what he is doing.
2. How desperate are NBA teams for shooters that they are looking at a 37 year old man who has seen more knives than a Benihana? It really shows the lack of quality shooters in this league and the fact that shooting the ball is a lost skill of the NBA. Maybe if Basketball.org could have gotten launched a few yeas ago, we wouldn’t even be talking about a Houston comeback and he would be sulking it up on South Beach.

Can he make the Knicks?

Houston will have a very difficult time making the roster. Putting aside his talent and strength of the knee, the numbers just don’t work. Right now, the Knicks have 17 players under contractand will already need to cut two guaranteed players to get the roster down to 15. Therefore, for Houston to make the team, the Knicks would have to cut three guaranteed players. Of course, the Knicks could make trades to open up spots, but again, I found it unlikely to do enough maneuvering in order to get Houston on the roster.

However, if he does show some promise and does play well, he may land with another club. As I mentioned previously, NBA teams are looking for shooters like Homer Simpson looks for donuts; they will take anything.