Knicks acquire Ewing’s son from Rockets

NEW YORK – Talk about pressure. Patrick Ewing Jr. is following in the footsteps of his famous father again. The New York Knicks acquired the younger Ewing from the Houston Rockets on Friday in exchange for the draft rights to French center Frederic Weis, one of the most widely criticized picks in franchise history. Ewing was selected by Sacramento with the 43rd pick in this year's NBA draft and traded with Ron Artest to the Rockets on August 14. Now, he's on to New York, where his father ruled the paint at Madison Square Garden for 15 of his 17 NBA seasons. "I am very happy my son will follow in my footsteps," said Ewing, an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic. "Hopefully he will have a long and productive career in New York. I am proud of him and wish him nothing but success." Ewing is New York's career leader in points, rebounds, and blocked shots, among other categories. He was voted one of the league's 50 greatest players, and will be inducted into basketball's Hall of Fame next week. Ewing Jr. isn't expected to be the impact player his father was, but he gives the Knicks a valuable public relations boost coming off last season's 23-59 record, matching the franchise record for losses. New York drafted Weis with the 15th overall pick in 1999. The seven-foot-two (2.19-meter) center never joined the Knicks. He won a silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was playing for a Spanish club. – AP