No, the Knicks can't be that bad. NY won't accept being bad enough to get high draft picks. Isiah said so himself.

Does Isiah have any appearances on Letterman scheduled soon?

Lenny will be gone within a week.

If Isiah makes this trade he is no better than Layden:

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/38491.htm

REUNION FOR JALEN, ISIAH?

By MARC BERMAN

January 20, 2005 -- TORONTO — Jalen Rose isn't surprised Isiah Thomas is after him again.

When Thomas was a Piston legend, Rose was a Detroit schoolboy standout and star pupil at Isiah's basketball camp. Rose played for Thomas parts of two seasons in Indiana but was shipped out for Ron Artest.

By the Feb. 24 trading deadline, Rose and Thomas may be reunited again. Thomas and Raptor GM Rob Babcock have continued to discuss a way to make Rose a Knick even after Vince Carter's trade last month. Isiah likes Rose a lot and the former Pacer put on a show last night in scoring 24 points off the bench as an audition in the Raptors' 98-81 win over the Knicks. Thomas was one of the few executives willing to take on Rose's contract in a Carter deal.

Thomas has the high-end but soon-to-be-expiring contracts to offer Toronto. During the Carter chase, Thomas offered Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway for Carter and Rose. Now he's again offering Hardaway, whose contract expires after next season.

The unhappy Hardaway has been banished to the injured list and is looking for a trade as he rehabs his hamstring. A deal can't be made until Hardaway proves he can play on the hamstring. Tim Thomas' contract also expires after next season.

"Growing up from inner-city Detroit, I would just hope guys like Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird would even know my name," Rose said before his explosive performance. "These are people who've been influential in my life on and off the court. It's been a blessing."

Rose has three years left on his pact, and forward Donyell Marshall, who's also piqued Isiah Thomas' interest, are on the block.

"This is a rebuilding situation," Rose said. "When I first got here, it was built around Vince Carter. Donyell, me and Vince were the core of the team. Once you trade Vince, it changes. The new management has kind of left me and Donyell as the odd men out.

"It's not my decision whether it will happen, when it happens. Between now and the trade deadline, it's not my choice. I've got to be a pro regardless. Whatever team I'm traded to, I'll report."