Patrick Ewing might be ready to trade his uniform for a whistle.

	Ewing

The Orlando Magic center has begun exploring the possibility of a coaching career, having had conversations with at least two NBA teams about becoming an assistant coach, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday.

In the past two days, Ewing -- who turns 40 next month -- has spoken with the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards, the newspaper reported, citing multiple league sources.

However, unidentified clubs sources told The New York Post that the Sentinel report that Ewing was talking to the Knicks about a coaching position was inaccurate. A more likely scenario, the Post reported, was that the ex-Knick would join the team in a visible front-office consulting capacity.

The conversations are believed to be preliminary, but the former longtime Knicks center and 11-time all-star is seriously thinking about life after playing basketball.

Neither Ewing nor his agent, David Falk, could be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Magic general manager John Gabriel told The Post on Friday that Ewing was "leaning toward retirement."

"We don't have it definitively, but he's leaning toward not playing," Gabriel told the newspaper. "We're being patient. We're allowing a great, great player to make a big, big decision."

Ewing is still under contract with the Magic, and he is considering playing out the final year of his two-year $4.4 million contract.

Ewing had the worst statistical season of his NBA career last season, but he gained the Magic's praise for his willingness to offer advice to the team's young stars -- Tracy McGrady and Mike Miller -- while tutoring rookie center Steven Hunter during practice.

His credibility as a great player could translate to being an effective assistant coach.

If he were to retire to become an assistant, Ewing or his agent would have to contact the Magic and, most likely, the two sides would negotiate so that Ewing could collect a portion of the $2.3 million he is scheduled to make next season.

Ewing averaged career lows in points (6.0), rebounds (4.0) and minutes (13.9) with the Magic. He missed 17 games because of injury and only started four games last season. Ewing lost his starting job in preseason and seemed uncomfortable playing a reserve role and having inconsistent minutes, but he rarely complained.