KFDM COOP Posted April 18, 2008 Report Posted April 18, 2008 Thomas out as Knicks coach but will remain with organization NEW YORK -- At long last, Isiah Thomas is out as head coach of the New York Knicks. But he's not totally gone. In one of the most anticlimactic firings in NBA history, incoming Knicks president Donnie Walsh announced late Friday afternoon he was relieving Thomas of his coaching duties. But Thomas, still owed $18 million after receiving a long-term contract extension 13 months ago, will remain in the organization with no official title. "I think Isiah remaining part of the franchise is good for the organization," Walsh said on a conference call with reporters. "I value Isiah's knowledge of the game and his opinions, so I will use him as a resource. Isiah will be reporting to me. There will be nobody reporting to Isiah." Thomas was 56-108 in his two years as head coach, taking over following the firing of Larry Brown in the summer of 2006. Walsh replaced Thomas as team president April 2 but wanted to wait until the season was over before making a decision on the coach. The Knicks finished their 23-59 season Wednesday, matching the franchise record for losses. "I can't tell you really where we failed," Walsh said. "The bottom line is we haven't won, and the team didn't look like it was motivated to try to win." Walsh, who has stated that his long-term goal for the Knicks was to get significantly under the salary cap by the summer of 2010, said he would begin the search for a new coach immediately. Former Knick Mark Jackson is among the candidates. "I think there are a lot of good candidates out there, and I'm going to start compiling a list trying to find out who's the perfect guy," Walsh said. "I know Mark, I had a lot of respect for him as a player, he was one of the smartest guys that ever played for us in Indiana. He's always been a guy I thought would make a fine head coach, and I'll certainly interview him. He'll be one of the guys on my list, along with others." Thomas' tenure with the Knicks has been marked by a number of embarrassments. This season alone, Thomas was found to have sexually harassed a former team employee, feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry -- the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out. Still, Walsh said he believed Thomas could contribute to making the Knicks a better franchise. "I feel like some of the bigger events that happened on the way with Isiah overshadowed some of the good things" that he accomplished, Walsh said. "I will be in touch with Isiah a lot," he said.
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