The younger Ewing was drafted this year by Sacramento but sent to Houston in a deal Aug. 14. The Knicks acquired Ewing Friday for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis, who is playing in a European professional league.

"Patrick Ewing will have an opportunity here to compete for a spot on our roster," Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh said. "He is a solid defensive player and a very good athlete."

Ewing played two seasons at Indiana before moving to Georgetown, his father's alma mater. He was selected the Big East sixth man of the year as a senior.

The elder Ewing owns several Knicks records, including points (23,665), rebounds (10,759) and games played (1,039) over a career in which played in New York from 1985-2000. He is to be enshrined next week in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.