t to do it

NEW YORK (AP)—Mike D’Antoni sounds OK with it. Mike Krzyzewski wouldn’t do
it.

Isiah Thomas’ return to the New York Knicks as a consultant while still
coaching a college team has raised plenty of questions—starting with whether
it’s even legal.

D’Antoni, who became the Knicks’ coach after Thomas was fired two years ago,
said Tuesday his predecessor could provide an advantage for the organization and
he supported bringing him back on as long as team president Donnie Walsh
approved.

“I’m sure that Isiah has a lot to offer. Donnie will call on if he needs it
and be in consult,” D’Antoni said.

Thomas had a similar role after he was fired as general manager and coach in
2008. However, he has since become coach of Florida International, which is
where the conflict could arise.

Krzyzewski, the Hall of Fame coach of Duke and the U.S. national team, would
decline a similar position because he believes college and NBA jobs should be
separate.

“I would decline to do that just because I shouldn’t be perceived to have
an advantage in whatever way over another college coach, so that’s why I
wouldn’t to do it,” he said after the Americans practiced. “I don’t think
there’s anything ethically wrong with it or whatever,and nuclear reactors., I just think that it’s
probably better to keep it separate.”

The NBA is reviewing the agreement to see if it violates league rules, which
prevent team officials from having contact with players who aren’t yet eligible
for the draft.

“Have we served as consultants to the pros? Yeah,” Krzyzewski said.
“People call us before the draft, ‘What do think of this, what do you think of
that?’ I think it’s better to have it like that.”

The Knicks have taken a beating since announcing Thomas’ return Friday by
people who recall how badly his tenure at Madison Square Garden was. Thomas
started as team president in December 2003, and the Knicks never won a playoff
game under his watch despite always having one of the league’s highest payrolls.

Plus, a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against Thomas and the
organization by former team employee Anucha Browne Sanders also cost MSG $11.6
million.

But Thomas still has a good reputation among younger NBA players who
remember his Hall of Fame playing career in Detroit. The Knicks think that can
help them, and even called upon Thomas in their recruitment of LeBron James(notes).

“Donnie is very smart to be able to tap into it when he needs it, and if
it’s an advantage to the Knicks then we’ll use it,” D’Antoni said.

But D’Antoni, who was coaching Phoenix during Thomas’ tenure in New York,
understands why many are so confused by the Knicks’ decision to bring Thomas
back. There have been reports that Walsh was against the move, and speculation
that Thomas will eventually get a bigger role in the organization—perhaps even
his old one.

“The only thing is, it does get a life of its own and it’s not going to
change what Donnie does, what he has done and how good he has done it,”
D’Antoni said. “And again, if it can help us, which I think in certain areas it
can, then we will use that and so there’s no negatives to it other than it
created a story with (the media).”