Surgery ends Harrington's season, perhaps Knicks career

INDIANAPOLIS - Al Harrington knew the end likely was near a week ago, when he made an appeal to a few reporters about his future with the Knicks.

"I need y'all to go in the papers and say, 'Bring Al back,' " he said. "I'll do anything."

But the reality is, the New Jersey-born forward, who grew up a Knicks fan, probably has played his last game for the team. Harrington will undergo surgery on his right shoulder Thursday in New York, which ends his season. Harrington, 30, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and with the Knicks looking to spend their $30 million-plus in salary-cap space on top-shelf talent and role players that better fit Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo, ball-movement system, he is unlikely to return.

"I'll be a ball-mover," Harrington quickly said.

The Knicks, whose two-game winning streak ended with a 113-105 loss to the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse, have four games remaining. Toney Douglas had 20 points and Danilo Gallinari added 17 points for the Knicks (28-50). Danny Granger had 33 points for the Pacers.

Harrington last week believed he could play through the pain in his shoulder's AC joint, but after a collision with teammate Bill Walker during Sunday's win over the Clippers, Harrington, through a team spokesman, said it "took my pain to the level where I felt that I should have the problem fixed."

His recovery period is three to four months, which means he'll be cleared to play about a month before training camp.

Harrington finishes the season averaging 17.7 points per game, which is slightly behind Jamal Crawford (17.8) for the NBA's top scoring reserve. Despite a handful of huge offensive nights - he scored a career-high 42 points in the home-opening loss to the 76ers and 39 points in a loss to the Cavaliers last season - Harrington was never the right fit in D'Antoni's system because of his one-on-one mentality.

But despite his plea to "finish my career in New York," Harrington's purpose as a Knick was served the day he was acquired, Nov. 21, 2008, when he came from Golden State in a salary- dump trade for Crawford. Donnie Walsh cleared $28 million in cap space that day, which included Zach Randolph being traded to the Clippers.

Walsh last night said it was "too soon to tell" if Harrington had played his final game as a Knick. D'Antoni said, "I like Al, he's been great. He puts his whole heart and soul into everything." When it comes to a possible return, D'Antoni said, "Those are decisions that Donnie will come up with this summer."

Notes & quotes: Tracy McGrady returned after he missed two games with a sore left knee . . . Chris Duhon started for a third straight game in place of rookie Toney Douglas. D'Antoni said he thinks Duhon runs the offense better and that benefits Danilo Gallinari.

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