As Donnie Walsh moves closer to his second marriage with James Dolan, the Knicks president does so with assurance from the club's owner that he has given up on the idea of hiring back Isiah Thomas in any capacity, The Post has learned.Walsh, who is close to finalizing a new deal with the Knicks, is confident he no longer needs to be threatened by the dark cloud of Thomas, according to two people familiar with the situation. Walsh is expected to be granted permission to hire his successor as a central part of a new agreement that should be formally announced shortly. A two-year contract extension has been discussed.
The sources told The Post Dolan has remained friendly with Thomas but no longer trusts him to the point of giving him another basketball job. Last August, Dolan hired Thomas as a part-time consultant amid a vicious public backlash, but the NBA blocked the move, citing a conflict of interest because he was a college head coach at Florida International University.
Walsh was devastated that Dolan made the move without his blessing.
The sources said in recent months -- since the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster -- Dolan has been convinced by his Garden lieutenants that giving Thomas another crack in the future would be unwise. It is unclear what the exact breaking point was.
Dolan clearly was unnerved by reports Thomas had helped orchestrate the Anthony trade. Dolan was concerned Thomas has lobbied for his candidacy secretly to members of the media.
In fact, Dolan's lieutenants became increasingly uncomfortable with Thomas speaking on the Knicks in a public forum. Thomas once failed to deny he was advising Dolan on Anthony negotiations in a Miami radio interview.
That Thomas, who has been plotting a return for three years, would one day become Walsh's successor seemed afait accompli last August. After commissioner David Stern prevented Thomas from taking the Knicks' consulting position, Dolan released an adoring statement.
"Although I'm disappointed that Isiah will not be working with the Knicks as a consultant, I continue to believe in his basketball knowledge, including his ability to judge talent," the statement read. "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 Knicks.''
Nevertheless, at the Anthony press conference in February, Dolan's tone changed regarding Thomas despite acknowledging their friendship. Dolan upstaged the proceedings to hammer the point Thomas was completely a non-factor in the deal.
"I will also say this very directly," Dolan said at the time. "While Isiah Thomas is a friend of mine, a very good friend of mine, he was not at all involved in this process. He wasn't advising me or telling me what to do in any way. And any report implied is simply untrue and fiction in somebody's mind.''
In the past, Dolan always had tried to make Thomas look good, having thanked him at the Amar'e Stoudemire press conference last July for helping the recruitment.
Meanwhile, Walsh and Dolan seem back on the same page with the owner sympathetic to Walsh's concerns that he had lost complete control of basketball operations.
"They're getting to a good place," the source said.
There have been minor issues that are being worked out as Walsh grew concerned about too many advertisers and sponsors riding the team plane and being in the locker room, causing a distraction. Even coach Mike D'Antoni grew weary of the distractions.
Walsh also wants in his new agreement assurance marketing executives won't be permitted to speak to player agents to arrange guest appearances without his approval.
Amar'e Stoudemire appeared on Letterman twice and George Lopez once. Anthony was on Letterman, and they both made a cameo on Sesame Street without Walsh's knowledge.
Yesterday, Anthony and his wife La La Vazquez appeared on The View, but Walsh is unbothered by offseason activities.
Those appear minor issues to be finalized. The big one is this: The Thomas Cloud has lifted.
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In a statement regarding Walsh's contract his agent, Steve Kauffmann, said: "As Donnie Walsh's attorney he has requested I make no further comments on this matter. When I am at liberty to divulge any information, on this matter, I will be happy to speak with you."
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The Knicks may begin their pre-draft workouts tomorrow and will scout the Nets' combine this weekend. On Monday, Donnie Walsh will conduct his first draft meeting with his full contingent of scouts.
5/5/2011 9:59 AM
