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Knicks: Isiah says Jackson is out
Friday, May 13, 2005
BY DAVID WALDSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff

Few people around basketball think the Knicks will get Phil Jackson, and now it appears Isiah Thomas is among them.

Thomas, who hasn't publicly characterized his chances of signing Jackson, revealed his feelings Wednesday to former NFL quarterback and friend Rodney Peete in Beverly Hills., Calif.

Peete said he ran into Thomas at the Four Seasons Hotel. He said the two were waiting for valets to bring their cars. During their brief conversation, Peete asked Thomas if Jackson would become the Knicks' next head coach. Thomas shook his head no.

"He said he didn't think it was going to happen," Peete said during a telephone interview yesterday. "He said he didn't think it was going to work out."

Peete, who is now a panelist on Fox Sports Network's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," became friends with Thomas in Detroit when he played for the Lions (1989-1993) and Thomas was playing for the Pistons.

Thomas did not reveal his reason for being in L.A., but said he wasn't there to meet with Jackson. The Knicks didn't add any clarity either, refusing to comment on Thomas's plans regarding the coaching search, and even declining to confirm that he was in Los Angeles at all -- even though he was seen by Peete and others.

According to Peete, Thomas said he had been in L.A. for "a day or so," and was on his way to the airport to catch a flight back to New York later that afternoon and was expected to arrive yesterday morning.

On May 5 Thomas spoke in general terms about Jackson's candidacy, but would not characterize the odds of Jackson joining the Knicks.

"You're asking me to speak for him and I can't, because I don't know," Thomas said at the time.

Thomas has met with P.J. Carlesimo, who is considered a legitimate candidate, and has also met with Maurice Cheeks and spoken with Flip Saunders, who is expected to end up in Portland or Cleveland. He said last week that he would reach out to former Piston Bill Laimbeer, who coached the Detroit Shock to a WNBA title, and is expected to meet with him soon. Herb Williams remains a strong candidate as well.

After Lenny Wilkens' brief tenure as coach ended in January, Laimbeer said in an interview that he wants to coach in the NBA, but he didn't think Thomas would take a chance on him.

"I don't envy Isiah's job as leading arguably the biggest media team there is," Laimbeer said when the Knicks were in Detroit. "He has to make very hard decisions for his next coach. The safe way to go is probably to go with someone who is very experienced and seasoned, if only to keep you guys off his butt."

Jackson, meanwhile, can choose between the Lakers, the Knicks and the Kings, whose owners, the Maloof family, have reportedly contacted him. The Maloofs also own the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

"Phil's in a good position now," Peete said. "He's a wanted man. Maybe they'll offer him a piece of the Palms Casino to convince him to take the Kings job."

I think Phil is a lock for the Kings. Brad Miller and Bibby and Mobley are prototypical triangle offense guys. I bet Phil will try to trade Peja though.

I don't feel like we were ever seriously in the running for Phil. I feel like Isiah will hire Herb and wait a year for Larry Brown. Or, at least, that's his plan...

Posted by TMS:

if Phil takes the SAC job, Isiah better go hard after Rick Adelman.

eh. I actually agree with all the criticism that he's not a very good in-game coach. He always seems to get outsmarted by lineup switches.