Dolan of the Knicks hiring his good buddy Isaiah Thomas to run the NY Liberty?
A look back at Isiah Thomas’ ignominious history with Knicks
By Post Staff Report
May 5, 2015 | 11:14pm
Isiah Thomas Photo: AP
— During his two seasons as Knicks coach, Thomas posted a 56-108 (.341) record. He proved he was just as bad a team president as he was a coach as the Knicks sported an identical 56-108 record during the two full seasons he served in that role (2004-05 and 2005-06).
All told, the Knicks were a staggering 112-216 during Thomas’ four full seasons at the Garden, and even though they snuck into the playoffs in 2004 with a 39-43 record (and were quickly swept by the Nets), they missed the playoffs in each of Thomas’ full seasons with the Knicks. Previously, the last time the Knicks had missed the playoffs even three seasons in a row came between 1984-87.
— In 2007, a jury found Thomas had sexually harassed team executive Anucha Browne Sanders and fired her improperly after she complained about the harassment. A jury awarded Browne Sanders $11.6 million in punitive damages, although they did not find Thomas personally liable for those damages.
— In 2005, Thomas hired Larry Brown and made him the highest-paid coach in NBA history, giving him a five-year contract worth between $50 and $60 million. Brown lasted one turmoil-filled year with the Knicks, which was lowlighted by a feud with point guard Stephon Marbury. Brown’s contract was bought out, and Thomas became coach.
— Before Thomas’ first season as coach, he acquired Bulls center Eddy Curry in a trade that would come to define his tenure with the Knicks. In the trade, he gave up the Knicks’ 2006 first-round pick, which became LaMarcus Aldridge, and swapped picks with the Bulls in 2007. That year, Chicago took Joakim Noah ninth overall, while the Knicks took Wilson Chandler at No. 23.
— By making a few other blunders, Thomas proved he was an incapable judge of big men. With Andrew Bynum on the board in the 2005 draft, Thomas instead took Channing Frye. That same offseason, he signed Jerome James to a five-year, $30 million contract despite James never averaging more than 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in five previous seasons. James reported to the Knicks out of shape and played in a total of 90 games over four seasons before being traded to the Bulls in 2009.
A look back at Isiah Thomas’ ignominious history with Knicks
By Post Staff Report
May 5, 2015 | 11:14pm
Isiah Thomas Photo: AP
— During his two seasons as Knicks coach, Thomas posted a 56-108 (.341) record. He proved he was just as bad a team president as he was a coach as the Knicks sported an identical 56-108 record during the two full seasons he served in that role (2004-05 and 2005-06).
All told, the Knicks were a staggering 112-216 during Thomas’ four full seasons at the Garden, and even though they snuck into the playoffs in 2004 with a 39-43 record (and were quickly swept by the Nets), they missed the playoffs in each of Thomas’ full seasons with the Knicks. Previously, the last time the Knicks had missed the playoffs even three seasons in a row came between 1984-87.
— In 2007, a jury found Thomas had sexually harassed team executive Anucha Browne Sanders and fired her improperly after she complained about the harassment. A jury awarded Browne Sanders $11.6 million in punitive damages, although they did not find Thomas personally liable for those damages.
— In 2005, Thomas hired Larry Brown and made him the highest-paid coach in NBA history, giving him a five-year contract worth between $50 and $60 million. Brown lasted one turmoil-filled year with the Knicks, which was lowlighted by a feud with point guard Stephon Marbury. Brown’s contract was bought out, and Thomas became coach.
— Before Thomas’ first season as coach, he acquired Bulls center Eddy Curry in a trade that would come to define his tenure with the Knicks. In the trade, he gave up the Knicks’ 2006 first-round pick, which became LaMarcus Aldridge, and swapped picks with the Bulls in 2007. That year, Chicago took Joakim Noah ninth overall, while the Knicks took Wilson Chandler at No. 23.
— By making a few other blunders, Thomas proved he was an incapable judge of big men. With Andrew Bynum on the board in the 2005 draft, Thomas instead took Channing Frye. That same offseason, he signed Jerome James to a five-year, $30 million contract despite James never averaging more than 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in five previous seasons. James reported to the Knicks out of shape and played in a total of 90 games over four seasons before being traded to the Bulls in 2009.
