"I don't think I would have done that if I was interviewed by a team that says we're going to go to the bottom (even if the team is) going to pay you a lot of money," Karl said before his Nuggets topped New York 128-125 on Friday. "My preference probably would have been, 'Why don't you call me in three years when you're in a different place.'"

Karl has great respect for Knicks president Donnie Walsh and D'Antoni. But he doesn't like the idea of tearing down a team to create salary-cap room while the coach's record suffers.

New York and New Jersey are implementing that philosophy as the summer of 2010 approaches. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh could headline a star-studded list of free agents.

"I think the plan was definitely there before Mike got there," Karl said of the Knicks. "My feeling, though, is maybe you make Mike vice president of basketball and let him coach the practices and give the losses to somebody else."

--Coach George Karl is hoping reports aren't true about legendary guard Allen Iverson possibly retiring. Karl coached Iverson with the Nuggets from December 2006 to November 2008.

"Maybe A.I. doesn't want to be a bench player," Karl said. "That's fair. ... But I think the majority of people who evaluate him at kind of where he is get excited (if Iverson would come off the bench). I would get excited to play him off the bench and run the majority of plays for him."

If Iverson decides to play again, Karl hasn't ruled out the possibility he could return to Denver. However, Iverson likely only would be considered if the Nuggets were to have an injury.

"A.I. for us is an injury discussion," Karl said. "I don't think it's a discussion right now for us. ... But just say somehow (guard) Ty Lawson is out for the season. I think speed and quickness is what Ty gives us. A.I. would be on the list of speed and quickness."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The only thing I liked about the stat sheet was the 30 assists. ... I am not sure if we moved ahead (Friday). But I know we didn't move back." -- Nuggets coach George Karl, displeased with his team's defense in a 128-125 win Friday over New York at the Pepsi Center.