Isiah Doesn't Deny Advising Knicks' Dolan On Carmelo
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Isiah Thomas was given every chance on Tuesday night to deny his reported relationship as an unofficial consultant to Knicks owner James Dolan. Isiah instead played it coy.
"The conversations I have with any of my friends are always private and confidential,'' Thomas told WQAM's Sid Rosenberg. "The conversations I have with friends and people that I know, those are private conversations.''
It has been speculated that Dolan hasn't yet exercised the final year on Knicks president Donnie Walsh's contract because Thomas is still on the owner's radar. Rosenberg asked Isiah if he expects to work again at the Garden.
"You ask me to be as honest as I can and I will be brutally honest with you,'' said Thomas. " I don't think anyone will say where they will be five years from now. But whereever I am in five years, I will be physically and emotionally prepared for whatever challenge is presented to me.''
If Isiah is indeed consulting with Dolan, no doubt they have had conversations about trading for Carmelo Anthony.
"Everyone agrees they need to keep improving to get to a championship level,'' Thomas said. "I do think the organization wants to improve to get better and get to the next to level. But for me to speculate on this Carmelo situation, I just don't think it would be proper to insert myself in such a public way knowing what I know.''
Frank Isola of the Daily News reported Tuesday that Anthony "could have been a Knick Monday if only team president Donnie Walsh were willing to meet Denver's trade demands."
The Knicks, according to Isola's source, would have to give up Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, an unnamed third starter, Eddy Curry's expiring contract, and "at least" one first-round draft pick in exchange for Anthony and Chauncey Billups.
"I think this thing is going to go right down to the wire," Isola explained to WFAN's Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton on Tuesday. "I still think the Knicks are debating whether or not to just try to wait until the summer to sign him outright, or maybe hope that Denver lowers its asking price a little bit."
It sounds as though Isiah wouldn't have a problem pulling the trigger on a deal for the superstar.
"In order to get to a championship level, which every team aspires to get to, you try to get the best players and try to get as many as you possibly can and see if you can win it.''
If Thomas does eventually return to New York, he would likely replace Walsh, who Isiah says has "done a great job.'' He didn't have such kind words for head coach Mike D'Antoni.
"You got to be able to coach both sides of the ball," he said. "You got to be good enough to coach both sides of the ball if you want to win championships. That is very difficult and that's why when you look at coaching, you have it pieced off – some coach defense, some coach offense. But very few have the ability to do both sides of the ball.''
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