Player Watch: Knicks' Harrington on a tear

By Art Garcia, NBA.com
Posted Dec 16 2008 2:00PM

Any doubt Al Harrington loves playing in New York? Once exiled in Golden State, the longtime favorite of Knicks president Donnie Walsh is now thriving with the Knicks.

"Feels like this was sent from God," Harrington said of the Nov. 20th trade that appears to have resurrected his career. "I couldn't have scripted it any better than this and I just want to take full advantage of it."

Playing in Mike D'Antoni's player-friendly pointfest, Harrington is scoring at a rate reserved for LeBron or Kobe. In his past five games, going into Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Big Al has torched foes for an average of 31 points a game.

The reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week shot a solid 51 percent during that stretch and grabbed eight boards per game. Quick to credit D'Antoni for his surge in production, Harrington knew it would work from the first conversation with his new coach.

"He kept it simple," Harrington recalled. "When he first called, I was in L.A. in a hotel, and he told me he was excited to have me and that he just feels I have a lot of skills that he's going to be able to utilize.

"He left it just like that. No promises or expectations as far as doing this, that or the other, but he just knew with my skills and versatility that I'll be able to do a lot of things on the basketball court. He's allowing me to do it. He's given me that freedom to allow my game to blossom."

Harrington followed with a familiar refrain from guys who have played for D'Antoni, past and present.

"He instills confidence in you at all times," Harrington continued. "When I first got here, I think I was shooting at about a 20-percent clip and he kept saying, 'Al, I know you can make those shots as soon as you get your legs back.' He was giving me excuses and allowing me to relax and not put pressure on myself."

Walsh drafted Harrington out of high school 10 years ago and brought him back to Indiana in a 2006 trade. The longtime Pacers' executive, who took over as New York's president earlier this year, has always insisted Harrington deliver.

"Donnie was the only one who put expectations of me when he traded for me," Harrington said with a laugh. "He said, 'Bring your game,' and I knew what that meant. Donnie has watched me since I was a little boy growing up to a man. He knew what type of guy he was getting -- a hard worker, a guy who was very dedicated to the game and will play his heart out every night."

There has been some confusion about what actually is the best position for the 6-foot-9 Harrington -- power or small forward. There's no confusion with the Knicks.

"I'm a basketball player," said Harrington, averaging 25.4 points and 7.7 rebounds overall in 11 games with New York. "I can play point guard. I can play wherever you need me to play."

Options remain for Shaq

Barring an unexpected contract extension, Shaquille O'Neal can join the celebrated free-agent class of 2010. Funny, no one seems to talk about the next oasis for the Big Cactus.

Turning 38 in 2010 has a lot to do with the lack of LeBron-type buzz. But that's fine with Shaq. His focus with the Suns is adding to his collection of four rings. Whether he seeks out another deal is hardly a given.

"I have a lot of options, so I'll just take full advantage of my options," O'Neal said. "I'm very honest with myself. If it's over, I'll do a helluva press conference, we'll do a helluva party and we'll just do something else. But I haven't been thinking about that."

Despite being 36 and in his 17th season, Shaq remains productive. He's averaging 15.8 points and 8.6 boards, and is coming off a 23-12 night against New York on Monday.

Phoenix isn't one of the favorites in the Western Conference. The playoffs aren't a given in the Valley of the Sun. Shaq, at least, isn't ruling out one more magical run.

"I just have to be in the right situation at the right time, and you've got to be lucky," he said. "I might have four championships, but I'd be the first to tell you that three of them, we had a little luck on our side.

"Anything is possible."

Kleiza next?

Denver's search for legitimate frontcourt help will likely come by trade. The question is who will the Nuggets give up?

Linas Kleiza, off to a slow start, wonders if he's the next Nugget out the door. "We got Marcus [Camby] gone. We got [Allen Iverson] gone," Kleiza said, according to the Rocky Mountain News. "One day, I wake up and I might be gone. That's part of the business. Our biggest names have been traded. Whatever happens, happens."