Isiah Thomas traded his way out of the first round in January. Now there's a chance he's going to get out of the draft altogether tonight and trade his second-round pick.

According to a league source, Thomas has fielded phone calls from other teams looking to acquire the pick. The Suns are trying to unload salary to get more cap room for Kobe Bryant, and Isiah wants a proven commodity to help now — not a second-round project.

Thomas had a lot of interest in several unprotected players in the expansion draft and he's wildly shopping contract-friendly Othella Harrington and Dikembe Mutombo.

"We're going to get a great player," Thomas cracked about his 43rd selection. He admits that if he uses his second-rounder, he'll be drafting a prospect who is a longshot to make the team.

The Knicks desperately need shooting guards/swingmen and there's a handful who will be around but none is a definite to make the roster. On Isiah's list are Florida State's Tim Pickett, Morehead State's Ricky Minard, USC's Desmon Farmer, JUCO swingman Donta Smith and Xavier's Romain Sato, a defensive specialist. Thomas worked out all but Sato, who is unable to create his own shot and the Knicks need shooters.

Thomas and Lenny Wilkens were deeply disturbed in how swingman Shandon Anderson, starting in place of injured Allan Houston at shooting guard, and Penny Hardaway produced offensively in the four-game Nets' sweep. With Houston's knees making him less than a sure thing, the Knicks need a perimeter scorer.

"Around that late in the draft, you're looking at perimeter people, guards," Thomas said. "All the quality bigs and even the average big men will be gone. You're looking for guys who've flown under the radar and have a chance at making the team. But the odds are stacked against those guys."

With nearly 28 Europeans pulling out last week, second-round fare is abysmal compared to other years.

"The second round is a shot in the dark this year," said Bobcats director of international scouting Tim Shea, who formerly worked for the Knicks during the Ernie Grunfeld Era.

The first round is no bargain either, which is why teams are trying to get out rather than be forced to extend a three-year guaranteed contract. For a mid-to-late first-round pick, that's in the $3 million range.