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playa2
Posts: 34922
Alba Posts: 15
Joined: 5/15/2003
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Knicks leave Dolan singing the Blues
Feb. 15, 2008
NY Post
NEW ORLEANS - Contrary to reports, the Knicks will have one representative in the Big Easy during All-Star weekend - owner James Dolan.
The Post has learned Dolan is on a panel this morning for the NBA technology summit here. Dolan has no plans to speak with the media about his involvement nor does he have a musical gig set up on Bourbon Street for his blues band, "JD and the Straight Shot."
But Dolan is singing the blues, because he has no Knicks players in New Orleans.
There are no all-stars, no hope, no master plan, no direction, no good trades and no way out. And Dolan has nothing to say regarding the Knicks' 15-37 record. At 22 games under .500, this threatens to be the most distressing season in Knicks history, factoring in the sexual harassment trial defeat in the Isiah Thomas-Anucha Browne Sanders case.
Dolan's silence speaks volumes, as loud as a Mardi Gras parade.
Dolan hasn't spoken publicly since last March when he gave Thomas a premature contract extension - based heavily on the organization's belief center Eddy Curry was a franchise cornerstone, someone to build around. Wednesday night, Thomas essentially called Curry obsolete.
Dolan hasn't attended any of the past 10 Knicks games and hasn't made a road trip with the club this season.
Thomas is expected to last the season, possibly because Dolan will make him earn his contract and not through any belief he has the club on the right track. Barring a miraculous post-All-Star-Beak run, it seems impossible Thomas will keep his job.
One theory on why Thomas keeps saying he will not add payroll in a deadline deal is because Dolan won't let him, not wanting to make the Knicks general manager job even more unappealing for potential candidates. That's why the Knicks may be after draft picks to go along with their expected high lottery pick this June and why Thomas may not be able to deal any of his young players, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Renaldo Balkman, Wilson Chandler.
Incredibly, despite missing the playoffs five of the last six years, the Knicks don't have one of their own lottery picks on the roster.
The Knicks situation might be so bleak it could be hard to recruit someone in the elite category of Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, Jerry West or Donnie Walsh. Warriors GM Chris Mullin has told confidants he is afraid the Knicks are in such disrepair, he would be risking tarnishing the solid reputation he owns in his hometown.
The summer's master plan of building the team around inside forces Curry and Zach Randolph has been scrapped. Thomas has not stated his new plan. The blueprint for interior superiority was ripped up in late December. After the Boston loss in which Curry played 9 minutes, 16 seconds, Thomas took the blueprint scraps and tossed it into the fire in making his outrageous blanket statement the NBA is no longer a big man's game.
marc.berman@nypost.com
JAMES DOLAN on Isiah : He's a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team.
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