TORONTO - Isiah Thomas' return in any capacity next season may not be a popular scenario among Knicks fans, but one player said it would be welcome news in the locker room.

"Basically, there are some people who are upset with the way things went this year and, yeah, some mistakes were made," the player said. "But when it all comes down to it, we would have Isiah over someone new."

The player agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation and the Garden media policy that forbids players from talking with members of the media without a public-relations official present. The player, who admittedly has had issues with .Thomas during his two seasons as coach, is concerned that .Thomas' standing among the players isn't being presented .accurately.

Amid the speculation about Donnie Walsh's expected arrival after the season to take over the franchise and the great unknown that is Thomas' future with the team, the players know only what they read and hear in media reports. "I think we know less than you do right now," David Lee said after Wednesday's win over the Heat.

Walsh remains employed by the Pacers, despite the announcement Monday that he will leave the franchise after the season. Reports by ESPN and Sports Illustrated suggested a deal is already in place with the Knicks, but the Pacers denied it. The Garden has maintained a consistent no-comment stance on the Walsh reports, but persons with knowledge of the situation have said the Knicks plan to hand the reins over to him after the season.

Newsday reported Thursday that Walsh's arrival doesn't quite mean Thomas is certain to be fired. It is believed that Garden chairman James Dolan would prefer to keep Thomas in some capacity, even as coach. Walsh would have to agree to it, and a person close to Walsh said it is not a given he would be against Isiah's return. Walsh hired Thomas to coach the Pacers from 2000-03 before Walsh's appointed successor, Larry Bird, fired him in favor of Rick Carlisle.

Though it was Bird's decision, Walsh was on board and told confidants at the time that he .realized hiring Thomas was a mistake. But not everyone with the Pacers thought so. Former All-Star Jermaine O'Neal regularly praises his former coach and said Wednesday that he .believed Walsh could help .Thomas.

"Donnie understands him as a person and as a coach," O'Neal said, "and it will give him an opportunity to concentrate strictly on X's and O's, strictly on what happens on the basketball court and not the business part of it."

Perhaps that has emerged as this season's built-in excuse for Thomas. Last season the team failed to make the playoffs because of key injuries down the stretch. This season it was the distraction of the sexual harassment trial and then the public feud with former protégé Stephon Marbury that derailed the Knicks' season.

If Thomas does return, it is unlikely Marbury will be with the team. "No," the player said. "They can't be together again."

One of the major issues surrounding Thomas and Marbury was the game after Marbury went AWOL in Phoenix Nov. 12 after being told he was no longer starting. Marbury returned to play against the Clippers in Los Angeles two nights later. Yahoo Sports reported that Thomas played Marbury against the wishes of the team, which, according to the report, voted against Marbury being allowed to play after deserting.

"There wasn't a vote, honestly," the player told Newsday. "People had their own thoughts, but it wasn't a vote straight up ... Some guys talked; Isiah wasn't there."

There have been other issues, from verbal altercations during games with Quentin Richardson and Zach Randolph to veterans taking issue with what appears to be Thomas' intention to tank games. Thomas has not worked the team hard in practice and has allowed a lackadaisical attitude to take over the game preparation.

But apparently all of this might not be enough to convince Dolan -- and some players -- that a change is needed.

Aww, isn't that special? The losers rallying around the head loser.

Where did you get this at?

It is clear Dolan hired Walsh because Walsh is the only GM that might consider keeping Thomas.

[Edited by - thegame on 28-03-2008 01:08]

And the logic behind that' is?

The only player that would possibly care that Isiah got fired would be Crawful. The rest of the roster would be throwing a wild bash celebrating his ousting. I can't see how it'd be any other way.


As to in what capacity Isiah will remain?

I don't know what to make of the reports until they are fact.

There's reports that has Walsh being anywhere from:

Overseer/Consultant of Basketball Operations
President of Basketball Operations
President & GM.

Then, the reports have Walsh doing anything from.

Firing Isiah
Keeping him as coach and GM
Keeping him as GM but with limited power


So....which to believe? I don't know. This is definitely a wait and see and nothing but speculation and water-cooler type convo until the season concludes and a Walsh hiring is official (Remember, he is stepping down from Indy and has been offered the Knick job but that's as far as it goes).

Posted by UB:

Posted by 4949:

It is clear Dolan hired Walsh because Walsh is the only GM that might consider keeping Thomas.

[Edited by - thegame on 28-03-2008 01:08]

And the logic behind that' is?

and the logic behind that is umm..Dolan owes Isiah like 15mil if he just lets him go. Not even Dolan is stupid enough to just throw that kind of money away (if he doesn't have to)



[Edited by - ub on 03-28-2008 01:33 AM]

I think the whole schmeal about getting Walsh was a way to keep Isiah no matter what is posted. But I disagree Dolan doesnt throw around money like it was coming out of his ears--he does it annually.

This really is a ****ing disgrace, Dolan has zero business sense if he keeps this guy, its not that hard to run a team and isiah broke every rule

1. Don't take chances on questionable characters
2. Don't take on long term deals
3. Don't hand out long term midlevel exceptions
4. Don't trade lottery picks for unproven players
5. Don't ever trade for Marbury

On top of that he moved, Thomas, Van Horn and Doleac all perfect compliments to Marbury who he gave up everything for which makes zero sense. Add in no progress for anyone outside of david lee and essentially having the chance to get Bynum, Noah, and Roy the knicks don't have one guy on this team outside of lee that would start and these losers want to welcome them back. It's beyond logic to entertain this ass clown coming back....

Ever player he has brought in through a trade sucks, and gets a long term deal i wonder why they love him

Posted by misterearl:

In-season newspaper Quotes you will never see in the NBA:

"If coach (insert any name here) comes back next year, I refuse to return to this team"

signed (insert player name here)

Except if you are a heavy like Magic Johnson

Posted by martin:

Posted by misterearl:

In-season newspaper Quotes you will never see in the NBA:

"If coach (insert any name here) comes back next year, I refuse to return to this team"

signed (insert player name here)

Except if you are a heavy like Magic Johnson

Might as well add Jason Kidd also he pretty much all but said this during his spat with Byron Scott.

Might as well add Kobe to the list also he pretty much all but said this during his spat with Shaq and Phil.

Might as well add Gary Payton to the list also he pretty much all but said this during his spat with Westphal

Might as well add Shaq to the list also he pretty much all but said this during his spat with Stan Van Gundy

Might as well add Antoine Walker to the list also he pretty much all but said this during his spat with Rick Pitino

Might as well add Baron Davis to the list also he pretty much all but said this during his spat with Rick Montgomery


I could go on and on

Posted by tkf:

well I got this from the post...

According to one Knick player, virtually all his teammates would like to see a coaching change after the season and have Isiah Thomas bounced.

"Everyone's lost," the player said. "I can't think of anyone (who would want him back). There's too much smoke and mirrors with him, too much B.S."

Doesn't sound like he has the players support to me....

That's Marbury talking and the other quote probably comes from Crawford. Goes to show their is no harmony on the team and a bunch of two-faced untrustworthy individuals.

Posted by Siar617:

Posted by tkf:

well I got this from the post...

According to one Knick player, virtually all his teammates would like to see a coaching change after the season and have Isiah Thomas bounced.

"Everyone's lost," the player said. "I can't think of anyone (who would want him back). There's too much smoke and mirrors with him, too much B.S."

Doesn't sound like he has the players support to me....

this is zach randolph
trust he wont be around next yr
that was a big thomas mistake

why Zach? he still gets his minutes and shots.

I'd go with 1 of the guys who have been jerked the most:

Curry, Nate, Lee, or Collins

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by tkf:

well I got this from the post...

According to one Knick player, virtually all his teammates would like to see a coaching change after the season and have Isiah Thomas bounced.

"Everyone's lost," the player said. "I can't think of anyone (who would want him back). There's too much smoke and mirrors with him, too much B.S."

Doesn't sound like he has the players support to me....

That's Marbury talking and the other quote probably comes from Crawford. Goes to show their is no harmony on the team and a bunch of two-faced untrustworthy individuals.

I don't know.. that statement was too coherent for it to come from marbury...