By HOWARD BECK
Published: June 28, 2006

Isiah Thomas got a new job, an ultimatum and a one-year lease on his office at 2 Penn Plaza — his career and the Knicks' fate now inextricably intertwined.

Every judgment, every transaction and every draft pick could help extend or terminate Thomas's tenure. Appropriately, the countdown begins tonight with the N.B.A.'s own fate-changing apparatus, the draft, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have the 20th and 29th selections. The free agency period opens Saturday. Thomas is officially on the clock.

"It's challenging," Thomas, the Knicks' president and coach, said Monday after his boss, James L. Dolan, declared Thomas had one year to save his job. "I don't think there's anybody else in the league or in sports probably working under this situation. However, that's how it is."

The draft will put on display the full range of Thomas's skills — and baggage — as an executive. The Knicks earned the No. 2 pick with a 23-59 season, but handed it to Chicago as part of last year's Eddy Curry trade. But the Knicks have the two lower picks as a result of previous Thomas moves, and he has a reputation for drafting well.

If Thomas feels pressure to acquire immediate help, he could draft upper classmen, or trade the picks for veterans. The Knicks have three promising players from the 2005 draft — Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson — and arguably do not need more 22-year-olds on the roster.

Yet as Thomas coolly absorbed Dolan's public demand for "significant progress," he pledged not to let it affect his decisions.

"This is still the rebuilding situation," Thomas said, "and my goal is to still rebuild it. And I'm not going to be shortsighted, even though there is pressure on me to do big things here. I won't shortchange the Knicks organization and do something hasty."

The Knicks' greatest need is for an athletic small forward and a rebounder. They are known to be enthusiastic about at least four players who should be available: Michigan State guards Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown, Connecticut center Josh Boone and Memphis forward Shawne Williams.

Scouts believe the Knicks could take Williams or Ager at No. 20, and Brown or Boone at 29.

Dolan appointed Thomas as coach last Thursday after firing Larry Brown. The messy soap opera consuming the Knicks could follow them right into the Garden. A group of angry fans have planned a protest march. The group (which started the Web site selltheknicks.com) plans to attend the draft and presumably make its voice heard.

Knicks officials will not be there to hear the fans. Because of the Madonna concert taking place next door at the Garden, the Knicks will instead operate from their offices in Greenburgh, N.Y.

Across town, the Knicks' contract dispute with Brown will press forward. Dolan is refusing to pay Brown the $40 million left on his contract, saying he was fired "for cause," over a number of alleged infractions. The contract provides that in the event of a dispute, Commissioner David Stern is the arbitrator.

Brown's lawyers filed paperwork yesterday to make their appeal, according to Brown's agent, Joe Glass. And Stern, who apparently could have declined, intended to decide the case.

"Commissioner Stern has agreed to accept jurisdiction over any dispute that may arise under the employment contract," said Tim Frank, the N.B.A.'s vice president for basketball communications.

When the hearing is held, Brown will be represented by one of the nation's most powerful law firms — the Washington-based Williams & Connolly.

The firm represented President Clinton during his impeachment proceedings, and a number of major political figures. The firm defended Mike Tyson during his rape trial and has also represented Andre Agassi, Boomer Esiason and Patrick Ewing.

Under terms of the arbitration, Stern can award or deny Brown his full contract, or choose any dollar amount between zero and $40 million. His decision is binding.

Until the matter is settled, Brown and his representatives do not intend to rebut the charges laid out by the Knicks. Dolan has said that Brown undermined Thomas by attempting to negotiate trades and that he violated several team policies.

"I'm going to let the four corners of the contract speak for itself," Glass said.

Brown did dispute Dolan's contention that he "never intended to coach" the Knicks beyond last season. Brown said he was closing on a new home in Greenwich, Conn., today and had enrolled his children in school there.

"It makes me sick to my stomach that anyone would say it wasn't my intention to see it through," Brown told The Star-Ledger of Newark.

By Brown's own admission, several Knicks players quit playing for him. It is now Thomas's burden to motivate them. Although Dolan gave him no choice, Thomas said he welcomed the chance to coach the players he assembled.

"I'd rather bet on myself," he said. "If my career is in the hands of somebody else, trust is not something that I have a lot of these days."

Thomas also has to decide which players should stay.

There are doubts that Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis can play together, although the Knicks traded for Francis in February on the premise that they could. Dolan and Thomas said they traded for Francis only to placate Brown, implying they would not have acquired him otherwise.

They said the same about Jalen Rose, who was acquired the same month. Both Rose and Maurice Taylor have expiring contracts, which could make them attractive trade bait.

"It's challenging," Thomas, the Knicks' president and coach, said Monday after his boss, James L. Dolan, declared Thomas had one year to save his job. "I don't think there's anybody else in the league or in sports probably working under this situation. However, that's how it is."

...

Knicks officials will not be there to hear the fans. Because of the Madonna concert taking place next door at the Garden, the Knicks will instead operate from their offices in Greenburgh, N.Y.

Isiah's tying the white flag?

Brown's lawyers filed paperwork yesterday to make their appeal, according to Brown's agent, Joe Glass. And Stern, who apparently could have declined, intended to decide the case.

"Commissioner Stern has agreed to accept jurisdiction over any dispute that may arise under the employment contract," said Tim Frank, the N.B.A.'s vice president for basketball communications.

When the hearing is held, Brown will be represented by one of the nation's most powerful law firms — the Washington-based Williams & Connolly.

...

"It makes me sick to my stomach that anyone would say it wasn't my intention to see it through," Brown told The Star-Ledger of Newark.

Brown's mounting an aggressive response

"I'd rather bet on myself," he said. "If my career is in the hands of somebody else, trust is not something that I have a lot of these days."

too bad for Zeke he can't suit up. some of the more notorious coach killers play for the Knicks.



[Edited by - McK1 on 06-28-2006 09:56 AM]

rvhoss - I'm witchoo

No crybabies

Posted by OasisBU:

Count me in, I want to see this team win so bad - to shut LB up, to make everyone eat their words about Zeke, to see this franchise restore its credibility, and for Zeke to save his career.

I could care less about Zeke I want the Knicks to have some pride again.

I have to ask though, to shut LB up? Dolan and Zeke are doing much of the talking recently and when Larry does talk he isn't saying a heck of a whole lot....just dropping very few insights...

I wonder if Dolan would buy out Francis's contract if Isiah asked him to do it.

What was he going to say, that it would suck?

I can see Larry wanting Jalen. We had nothing but guys that pound the ball and Jalen is a legit playmaker. But I will never ever buy for a minute that Francis is here because Larry begged, pleaded or whatever you want to call it. Francis is an Isiah move if there ever was one, and the furthest thing from the kind of guy LB was trying to add.

And even if the old man took too much codeine that day its the GMs job to make a final call on is this good or bad for the francise.

Please

he said no finally and the last 40 days are what he was hoping to avoid by saying yes.

Man do I ever hope so we could use the roster space.

ala tim thomas in chi-town. Heck, bring back TT! I'm sure he would come on the cheap...well, maybe not. nevermind.