This is absurd. From ESPN.com this morning:
Former New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas has been banned from having any contact with members of the team as part of his reassignment agreement with team president Donnie Walsh, the New York Daily News reported, citing a team source.
Walsh, who replaced Thomas as the Knicks’ president, fired him as coach last week after Thomas went 56-108 as coach, including this season’s 23-59 disaster, the franchise’s seventh straight losing season. He has been reassigned as an advisor to the team.
According to the report, there is concern that Thomas, if allowed to have any contact with the team, could either willingly or unwillingly undermine its new coach. Thomas acquired all the players on the current Knicks roster as team president.
But the agreement does not prohibit Thomas from speaking to Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, according to the report.Thomas does not have an official title. He reports directly to Walsh, who said no player brought up Thomas’ name during last week’s exit meetings Thursday.
If they’re going to these lengths to keep him away from the players, why is he even with the team any capacity AT ALL?
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 am
Myrie says:
Damn Damn Damn….
My beloved NYK. I was delighted when Isiah came on board; not because he was Isiah, but because I could not wait for the Knicks to rid themselves (of then GM) Scott Layden.
I really did not think (mngmt wise/player movement) that it could get any worse than Scott Layden (h eover paid for Allan Houston $96 million, he traded Patrick Ewing for Luc Longley, Glen Rice and Vin Baker, he signed Howard Eisley, Shandon Anderson to big deals….and so much more….)
But then….I got what I wished for, a new GM. Dammit. Jeanie’s never say you can have your wishes back do they? Isiah gutted the team and made a bigger mess than Layden ever did.
I dunno what to wish for this time around.
But keep that dude away from the state of NY.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
Constable Goon says:
THANK YOU BABY JESUS!!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
BxBaller says:
Hahaha, he’s been banished, he’s probably Walsh’s personal little bitch now. Hahaha.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
doc says:
He getting PAID to not do shit.He is the fucking man to me.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 am
K Dizzle says:
lol. So Zeke’s gettin 18 mil to be the “advisor” and just stay the phuck away
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:01 am
QQ says:
Someone please pay me to NOT do anything!
Isiah has the best job in the world.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
hahns says:
bad PR to fire Isaiah??? or does zeke have dirt on dolan… hmmm
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
JA says:
The Knicks should keep him around in a back room somewhere. Remember the Seinfeld episode The Opposite? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Opposite)
They just need to ask Thomas what he would do, then do anything but that. They’d have the Knicks turned around in no time.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
bsteezy3 says:
doc, QQ–you guys said it man. I say Isaiah is a fuckin’ genius! He’s gettin’ paid more than the average M.F. And its like they are saying, “We’ll pay you, just don’t come near us.” Ahhh, that guy is living the life…
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
Myrie- I agree with everything you said but you forgot about him trading Latrell Spewell I don’t like Danny Walsh but a change had to be made God bless the KNICKS and their real fans
Bstezzy3,doc,QQ,K Dizzle - 1st round is on Zeke make mine a double!!
To all- We should be good to go in 3 years I can’t wait to start beating on Boston, the Brooklyn Nets and Sixers again!! KNICKS UP all the rest down
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
word says:
lmao only Isaiah could manage to get banned from the players. That’s hilarious, but smart move Donnie.