Write On Sports LLC - "Fire Isaiah" by Troy Somero

Fire Isaiah

2008-04-23 23:05:17 | By: Troy Somero

Last week, Knicks GM Donnie Walsh announced that Isaiah Thomas would not be returning to the sideline as the franchise's head coach next season. While New York City has let out a collective sigh of relief upon hearing this announcement, and while this declaration is the first of many changes Walsh will likely make to this struggling organization, that fact remains that this is not necessarily the best move for the team. The rally cry of Knicks' fans over the past season has been "Fire Isaiah", but Knicks management has done no such thing to date.

According to Walsh, Thomas will stay with the Knicks as a "personal advisor". Many people suspect that the Knicks do not want to go through litigation and a buyout to complete eliminate Thomas from the organization, choosing instead to hide him behind the scenes and to keep him as far from the public eye as possible.

The major problem with this decision is that it is emblematic of the Knicks problems over the last few seasons that Thomas has been charged with running to organization. Rather than taking a strong stand and completely ridding the franchise of problems, Walsh and the rest of the organization has chosen to instead push a specific problem (Thomas) to the side. Addressing the issue head-on would allow the organization to completely rid itself of perhaps its worst era in history. While Walsh is celebrated across the NBA as an excellent executive, it is worrisome that some of these recent Knicks qualities (indecisiveness, ignorance) may have already seeped into his leadership.

Furthermore, Walsh side-stepped another report that came out on Monday which stated that, per Walsh's instruction, Thomas was to have no direct contact with any Knicks players in his current position. Not only is this evidence that Walsh views Thomas as a destructive member in the Knicks' organization, but it is also evidence of the fact that Walsh does not want Thomas to have anything to do with the franchise.

This entire situation reeks of passive aggressiveness. Knicks management understands that it must rid the franchise of any connection to Thomas. By removing him from the bench, barring him from any decision-making responsibilities concerning the organization, and preventing him from contacting any players directly, Knicks management is sending an unmistakable message that it no longer wants Thomas in a relationship with the Knicks.

The fact remains, however, that he is still a Knicks employee. This sends a paradoxical message to all parties involved: embarrass the franchise, recklessly spend money, endure two years of losing records, but you can still keep your job. It appears that no matter how many mistakes Thomas makes, the Knicks do not plan on ridding themselves of him until his "undisclosed" contract extension that he signed in March 2007 ends. The Knicks would rather absorb the collateral costs of keeping Thomas employed than to negotiate a buyout and finally allow this two-year long scar on the franchise heal.

Perhaps the most ironic aspect of this situation is that the Knicks do not want to buyout Thomas' contract despite the fact that - thanks to Thomas's contract negotiation skills - the franchise will pay the painful trio of Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford more money in 2010 ($38.6 million) than it paid them this year ($30.1 million). An extra $5 or $10 million dollars to save face and completed rid the franchise of Thomas' tarnish is definitely worth the price, especially when considered alongside the tens of millions of dollars that the Knicks have thrown at questionable acquisitions. However, until James Dolan and Walsh end the Thomas era in the Knicks front-office, the franchise will not full be able to recover from the horrors of the last two seasons.

Comments

steve kay commented,
Troy, I am a huge Isiah Thomas fan when he was a player in Detroit, where I am from. I had seasons tickets to every Piston game from 1981 - 2006. Pound for pound, in my mind, there is not a better guard in the league past or present. He was the firey engine that made the Bad Boys run! It's sad to see such a tremendous player become one of the worst execs / coaches in the league and to do it in the largest media market. Frankly it's more embarrassing than Spitzer. Obviously there are major issues with Walsh and the ownership. Bumble after bumble. I like your writing, but next time, you might want to find out the correct spelling of Isiah's first name! It's not Isaiah. Steve
April 25, 2008 8:58 a.m.

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