http://www.nypost.com/sports/41012.htm

NO BROWNOUT YET

PETER VECSEY

March 13, 2005 -- DAVE Checketts and Phil Jackson both deny they met recently to discuss a "position" with the Knicks' organization.

At the risk of getting it right the second time, it seems the Pistons aren't as opposed to trading Larry Brown to the Knicks after this season, as I once believed.

Still, don't get suckered into thinking a negligible first round pick or two is enough to secure such superiority. Bill Davidson views his commander as a "max" coach, therefore will demand max compensation should he decide to take that route.

Then again, should Brown make it a habit of donating points to opponents when the Pistons can least afford it, Davidson may take whatever the Knicks are willing to scrounge up just to get out from under the burden of his $6 million per contract.

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http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/41014.htm

ISIAH'S EYES ARE ON NATE

By MARC BERMAN

March 13, 2005 -- KNICK NOTES

Herb Williams and Sonics coach Nate McMillan have two things in common. They don't have contracts for next season and Isiah Thomas said they both were among "the young bright minds in the game."

Williams and McMillan may have another thing in common. They both could interview for the Knick job this summer, if McMillan isn't retained.

Despite the Sonics' incredible season, McMillan is a lame duck, having not always seen eye-to-eye with management. Interestingly, Thomas went out of his way to praise McMillan, whose Sonics play the Garden tonight, the only opponent the Knicks haven't faced.

Thomas likes the way McMillan has won with a inventive style, feeling he has "caught the league off guard." McMillan has incorporated a potpourri of power forwards and uses his center to shoot from the outside. The Sonics are similar to what the Knicks look like after the Feb. 24 trades, with starting center Kurt Thomas and a slew of power forwards.

"Nate and I have known each other since we played against each other," Thomas said. "We've also spent a lot of times in the summer at coaching clinics. Nate is one of the young bright minds in the game. He's in a very difficult situation coming up this year with his contract. He's done a masterful job of coaching. My hat's off to him."

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