http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3605502

In a surprise announcement today, Knicks president Donnie Walsh said the controversial former GM and head coach will be with the team when it begins official workouts next week.

"He's coming to training camp," Walsh said of Thomas in a telephone interview Tuesday evening.

Contrary to earlier indications that Mike D’Antoni would be the head coach this year, Walsh asserted that it had always been his intention to bring back Thomas.

"This thing is initiated in the press and then I have to ask questions about it," Walsh said, sounding somewhat perturbed. "It was always a possibility that we would retain Isiah as head coach of this team."

When asked whether he's reached out to the coach to alleviate concerns about his status with the team, Walsh said, "I talked to Isiah, and he seems OK about all of this."

Thomas is coming off a disastrous 3 ½ year stint as GM of the Knicks. He was famously unable to get along with any of the head coaches he hired, until he finally had to assume the coaching position himself.

Thomas also had a falling out with his star point guard and protégé Stephon Marbury last year, raising questions as to whether the two of them could coexist on the team this year.

Asked if he thought there might be any friction between the two, Walsh assured the assembled press corp that Thomas and Marbury had patched up their differences, and were now closer than ever.

“It will be different this time around.” Walsh said. “Isiah is the one guy who knows how to get through to Stephon. That’s why we need him as coach”

Walsh had no comment on the status of D’Antoni, the coach recently hired to replace Thomas. D’Antoni recently signed a 4 year, $24 million contract with the Knicks. It is speculated that he will be assigned another position in the organization.

"This thing is initiated in the press and then I have to ask questions about it," Walsh said, sounding somewhat perturbed. "It was always a possibility that we would retain Isiah as head coach of this team."

funny!

Thank god. Only a coach with the talents of Isiah could save this team!

HILARIOUS!

Somewhere Islesfan is laying in a pool of his own fluids.....after his heart exploded in his chest.

Posted by EnySpree:

Somewhere Islesfan is laying in a pool of his own fluids.....after his heart exploded in his chest.

I dunno man. I think Isles would sniff out the fake. Me, I had to read it twice to find the line he added.

Posted by Nalod:

Playa is to the country as Islesfan was to the knicks......

LOL. Too true.

Given that Walsh was entertaining a Marbury for S&T Ben Gordon swap over the summer? It wouldn't surprise me if Isiah is indeed still very much a part of this.

Given that we have signed trash like Duhon, Roberson, Ewing JR, Allan Houston, traded Balkman for nothing, passed on a Zach for full cap space trade with LA --- only to almost pull the trigger on a Zach for Darko/Jaric trade? I'd say LAYDEN still has a job here.

Sorry fellas, but, this off season has been a joke.

Sing Walsh's praises all you wish but a blind squirrel would have waived Marbury and Malik, bought out James, and traded Zach to the Clippers.

That blind squirrel would have done more to rebuild this franchise that Walsh has done so far.

I thought I first posted Isiah's return as coach of the NYK months ago in our spoof thread.

This article is not a joke, it is 100% true. REad my signature.