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McK1
Posts: 26527
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 7/16/2005
Member: #964
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May 16, 2006 -- WHAT we have here is a failure to excommunicate.
All this time, I had it wrong. I figured Isiah Thomas hired someone who would end up sabotaging him and taking his job.
Not the other way around.
Much to the delight of no one in particular, Thomas is staying and Larry Brown is an agreed contract buyout away from being drum-rolled out of his dream job.
"The number is $25 million," reveals the same snitch who leaked Sunday's story regarding the Knicks' plot to create coach space for Thomas by bustin' Brown to an unrestricted private.
That's the magic number echoing throughout the dead brain chamber of Cablevision (biz)czar James Dolan. It's roughly $19 million lower than what's owed over the next four years in salary and perks to the 66-year-old. Ten months ago, Brown pocketed $7 million when Pistons owner Bill Davidson dumped him after Detroit came within minutes of winning a second straight NBA championship.
My source is unsure whether that number, or any number, has been presented to Joe Glass, Brown's longstanding agent, who does all the dirty work that doesn't show up in Larry's stained stat sheet. But apparently that's what Dolan is prepared to pay to liberate the Knicks of a contrary coach who has been fed up for months with both his employers and employees.
"They're making things so uncomfortable for him, they're hoping he walks," said someone monitoring both sides of the epicenter. "But we all know that ain't happenin' in our lifetime. Not unless Larry's already halfway to his next multi-million job, which is positively conceivable."
According to an assistant coach, Thomas has been subverting Brown's authority with the players almost from the moment his coach began to undermine (read: devalue) his roster to the media. We're talking very early in the season.
From then on, there was hostility among the troops. "It's like two competing militias in Lebanon," underlined an extremist view of the scene.
Late in the season, I'm told Brown notified Thomas, "If you want me back you've got to get rid of five players." My informant declined to name names, maintaining a source isn't necessary to figure it out. So, we're talking Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Jalen Rose and Jerome James for sure. Nate Robinson or Maurice Taylor has to be the fifth.
Immediately after the Knicks' 23-59 sorry season expired, Thomas convened the usual exit meeting that all teams do. Both the GM/president and the coach separately get together with each individual player. Brown asked Thomas not to hold his encounter sessions, but he refused.
"Larry knew Isiah would undermine him further with the players and he was correct," disclosed a member of Brown's camp.
Subsequently, Thomas divulged to a Knicks beat writer that eight players had told him they don't want to play for Brown. Shortly thereafter, Thomas alerted Brown the five players weren't going anywhere.
In at least one case, that's completely opposite than what Thomas told Brown when he consented to lie about endorsing the acquisition of Rose. Thomas promised he'd only keep him for the remainder of the season, but recently he told Brown he intends to keep him the coming season as well.
I've got to believe the same scenario played out when Brown pretended to like Thomas' unfathomable procurement of the maximum compensated Francis (three years and $57M left).
Thomas' plan (who says he doesn't have one?) is to make Larry's life as unpleasant as possible in hopes he goes away on his volition, or is so unhappy he accepts far less than the $25M number.
Part II is for Thomas to leave his customary spot, skulking in the MSG tunnel, for a seat on the bench. That's tantamount to the arsonist who sets the fire, then tries to put it out so he can become the hero.
And you wonder why I call it Fablevision?
I'm guessing a letter of recommendation for Next Town's next six jobs is out of the question.
peter.vecsey@nypost.com
the stop underrating David Lee movement
1. FIRE MIKE 2. HIRE MULLIN 3. PAY AVERY 4. FREE NATE!!!
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5/16/2006 9:10 AM
