Former Knicks guard Allan Houston became the team's assistant general manager recently and appears to remain in line to one day replace top executive Donnie Walsh.

Houston was recently promoted to assistant general manager when he signed a new two-year contract to remain in New York's front office.

"It goes back to what I said when I first gave him the job; I think he's a great candidate to become a GM someday," Walsh told Newsday.

Walsh has one year left on his contract, plus a team option for 2011-12 that must be picked up in April.