TOUTING THOMAS


TAKING SHOT AT BROWN, ISIAH 'COMFORTABLE' WITH KNICKS' MAKEUP


By MARC BERMAN

June 30, 2006 -- Knicks president/coach Isiah Thomas was "comfortable" with the roster, just not the coach.
Yesterday Thomas, fresh off the 23-59 record posted by Larry Brown in the coach's final season, said he's prepared to stand pat this summer because he's "comfortable with this roster."

With free agency beginning tomorrow, Thomas, bearer of a 23-win club, warned Knicks fans not to expect many more changes before training camp, as he wants to finally see this young roster settle after two years of constant disruptions.

Thomas' blockbuster remarks are a major departure from the past. They also come after his controversial draft, in which he passed on lottery-projected point guard Marcus Williams for unknown South Carolina sixth man Renaldo Balkman at No. 20, when he likely could have had both if he played his cards right.

Thomas believes the club vastly underachieved under the fired Brown and believes the first-round additions of Balkman and big guard Mardy Collins solidifies their major problem - perimeter defense.

Thomas acknowledged he's in a different place now than the past two summers, when he worked the free-agent phones with a frenzy.

"In the summers past we didn't have the type of foundation we have now," Thomas said. "You're talking two summers ago after five first-round picks we've (added). We don't necessarily need what we needed two years ago, when you had to be aggressive, when you had to make a lot of trades and you had to do a lot of things. Now you're enjoying some of the fruits of your labor."

Last season, the fruit was rotten.

"I'm very comfortable with our roster, comfortable with the things we have," Thomas said. "I'll continue to look to get better if we can get a better player. But if we have to go into the season right now with what we have and the way we look, I'm comfortable with that.

"If we have to open the season today, I'm pretty comfortable."

Thomas just wants to let the young players marinate. And mostly he wants to prove Brown wrong. Brown wanted to take a stick of dynamite to Thomas' lavishly paid roster this summer - the chief reason he's unemployed.

Thomas said it's a strong possibility he won't use the $5 million mid-level exception on a free agent or the $1.7 million exception. (He supposedly told Brown that, too). Thomas said he's not interested in Mike James and Speedy Claxton, both point guards.

The Knicks' best chance of signing a free-agent is through a sign-and-trade, and small forward Al Harrington will be explored.

The Knicks would like to lessen the glut in the backcourt by moving Steve Francis and Quentin Richardson, both of whose trade values are shot (Richardson has an uninsured back and Francis was god-awful). Hence, landing Kevin Garnett will likely be an impossibility, as Thomas wants to hold onto last season's rookies - Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson - and not deal the expiring contracts.

"I'm not here waiting for Santa Claus to come save us," Thomas said. "I was told early on we didn't have any money and there was no Santa Claus."

Thomas said his two expiring contracts - Jalen Rose and Maurice Taylor - won't be shopped. Owner James Dolan wouldn't mind those pacts, totaling $25 million, coming off the salary cap next summer.
"We're probably in a different mode than last year and year before," Thomas said. "We probably won't be as aggressive with those expiring contracts. If the right opportunity is there, we'll try to do it. But we won't be as aggressive. We sit here after five first round draft picks. We've done a good job. Now it's time to see where we are."

Dolan has given Thomas a one-year leash and it sounded as if he has given him budget constraints, too. Of course, much of this is ego, too, as Thomas tries to stick it to Brown next season. Thomas believes Brown ruined the players' confidence, especially the three rookies.

"I do like the players," Thomas said. "My job is to get their confidence back. And I think they can play at a higher level than a lot their performances last year."
The two centers, Eddy Curry and Jerome James, top the underachieving list, as Thomas said he has to "get more out of" both.

Brown assistants Dave Hanners and Phil Ford likely will be reassigned, as Brendan Suhr head back to bench. Mark Aguirre will coach summer league team in Vegas over Herb Williams.

marc.berman@nypost.com

Francis for a resigned Harrington almost makes too much sense doesn't it?

i want the al and francis deal to happen but i dont want give some of our youthful players!!!!!!

does he want to stand pat or has his purse strings been cut?

I dont like Al, but would definitely welcome a Francis for Harrington swap.

"I do like the players," Thomas said

scott layden...is that you?!?!?

Posted by VDesai:

Posted by unstopaball12:

the thing is we would be overpaying al!!!!

I think Atlanta is under the cap. I might be wrong, but I think whatever we give Al wouldn't necessarily have to match Francis' salary.

correct

Bobby Simmons got overpaid last year and got 5/$47 mil. I don't think I'd want to go more than 5/$50 for Al.

if the Hawks are willing to take Francis, they can have him for a future 2nd pick to be payed before 2015

yea but we get a true sf in al harrington but how is his d?!

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by rvhoss:

francis for harrington

no to al harrington.

no more big $$$ acquisitions that ADD YEARS to our cap.

trade francis for less years - OPTIMAL.
waive francis - COOL.
trade francis for 3 year garbage players - FINE.
trade francis for a 5 or 6 year deal - NO.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 06-30-2006 11:58 AM]

Dude, Isiah said Santy Claus ain't commin, but fret not cuz he said nothing about the TOOTH FAIRY!

Last I saw, she still got her juice card!