"As much as Al Harrington wanted to remain with the Knicks, there was always a part of him that believed Mike D'Antoni would never allow that to happen.

"Hell no," Harrington said Wednesday. "He definitely didn't want me back. That was the most obvious thing of all. We all knew that he didn't want me to be there."

Harrington's brief run with the Knicks officially ended when the veteran forward agreed to a five-year, $34 million contract with the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. For months, Harrington was holding out hope that Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who drafted Harrington for the Pacers out of St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, would find a way to keep him.

But in order for the Knicks to sign Amar'e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton, the club had to renounce Harrington's rights. It was a bitter ending for Harrington, who never felt wanted by his head coach.

Their relationship soured early last season when Harrington learned that D'Antoni was trying to trade him during the season. D'Antoni met with Harrington and denied trying to move him, but the damage was already done. There were other issues. Harrington believed he could have been better utilized in the post as opposed to being a perimeter shooter.

"Communication is the key with everything," Harrington added. "I respect people that tell you what it is. Don't tell me one thing and say something different to somebody else."

Harrington, 30, claims he doesn't understand why D'Antoni wouldn't embrace him, saying "I came off the bench and did whatever he asked me to do. I don't think he liked my game so now I'm moving on.

"When we won a game and I played well he wouldn't even mention me in his postgame comments. It is what it is. I thank him for the opportunity to play but I don't think I was a guy that he really liked.""