NEW YORK — The Houston Chronicle makes it appear Jeff Van Gundy got shafted by messenger Daryl Morey, claiming the only just installed GM knew all along the Rockets' exiled coach wanted to continue for at least another season.

First of all, owner Leslie Alexander and only Leslie Alexander makes these types of command decisions, so if the newspaper is going to suggest someone at the top is lying it definitely isn't the new go-fer on the block.

The Chronicle asserts Van Gundy never wanted to leave — though he did put off the Rockets' front office — insisting he had made his desire to remain as coach clear from the start.

What are those claims based on?

Van Gundy's quoted word. From bad experience, take it from me, that's not good enough.

I know for a fact Van Gundy told numerous confidants several weeks prior to the playoffs he planned to retire after this season, remain in Houston and perhaps coach high school basketball while working as an NBA TV analyst.

He adopted almost the exact same stance the season before he actually quit the Knicks.

How do I know?

Van Gundy admitted as much to me at the time when I mentioned what I had heard at the outset of the team's first-round playoff loss that season.

Because he didn't duck the truth I volunteered to hold off breaking the story until he made up his mind for sure. Twice I called him that summer to follow up on his verdict. The second time he told me he was staying put.

When Van Gundy finally decided to quit 19 games (10-9) into the 2001-02 season it somehow slipped his conscience to inform me beforehand. If his disloyalty caught me off guard, imagine how betrayed James Dolan, Scott Layden and his left-in-the-lurch players felt.

Alexander's firing of Van Gundy, I'm guessing, was simply a pre-emptive strike to avoid such a callous re-enactment.

No, I do not know for certain whether the coach alerted the owner of his intention to retire — win a title or get dumped in the first round — after the playoffs.

But, considering what happened, I presume that was the case.

Again, I know for a fact Alexander asked people in his organization weeks ago for a replacement list, topped by Rick Adelman. That's partially how I got hold of Van Gundy's impending departure and later word that Alexander had settled on hiring Adelman.

Did Van Gundy reverse his retirement plan at some point soon after the Rockets seven-game loss to the Jazz?

It appears that's what happened. That's his M.O. But, by then, Alexander's game plan was irreversible.

Clearly, Alexander had overdosed on Van Gundy's indecisiveness — though Jeff maintains otherwise and the Chronicle favors his version — and, from what I'm hearing, a lot of his other compulsive-repulsive idiosyncrasies.

Apparently one odd ball owner is enough weirdness for a franchise that still far exceeds the strangeness cap.

Mavericks assistant Sam Vincent has emerged as the lopsided choice to become the Bobcats new head coach, a Charlotte hall monitor reveals.

Of the six candidates initially interviewed by Michael Jordan and Bernie Bickerstaff — Mike Fratello, Stan Van Gundy, Paul Silas and Herb Williams — the persuasive extrovert was the only one invited back. "Unless a fascinating nominee suddenly materializes, it's Sam's job to lose. Michael was very impressed by his comprehensive coaching approach."

What was the Pat Riley's concise speech to Heat players upon returning to a team (resuscitated by Ron Rothstein and about to be joined by Shaq) following a couple non-pressing surgical procedures?

"We all know what I did was not right. I'm not proud of it. But it's over and done with so we're not going to talk about it again. Let's go back to playing basketball."

Sam Mitchell's expiring salary is $2 million, not $1.6 million as is widely reported.

He earned an additional $100,000 in bonuses. Excluding playoff incentives, etc., he'll pocket $4 million per over the next three seasons . . . laser scout/former Magic executive John Gabriel has joined Kiki Vandeweghe, Chris Wallace and David Griffin as a Grizzly GM aspirant.

Phil Evans announced his resignation as president of the Developmental League, effective July 1.

The NBA, looking for a successor with experience running a minor-league operation, immediately called Knicks owner James Dolan.