This is the most ridiculous thing in the NBA right now. How in the world does Isiah Thomas still have a job? How does an executive keep his job after making one bad deal after another? Just what he’s done in the past year can be grounds to fire someone. I mean if a sexual harassment lawsuit doesn’t get you fired then I guess putting together the worst roster in the NBA in addition to having the highest payroll won’t matter.
I do have a theory on why he still has a job. It’s not a very sound one but given how owner James Dolan seems not to have any sense it could be plausible.
Say what you want about Isiah and his GM skills but he does have a decent track record when it comes to coaching. He was successful at it when he was a head coach for the Pacers many years ago. When the Knicks fired newly hired head coach Larry Brown after a horrendous year Isiah took over the coaching duties. Brown, however, had $40 million on left on his contract that was guaranteed. The Knicks and Coach Brown later settled on a $18 million buyout. Now that Isiah was the head coach and GM it saved Dolan from having to pay two people to do the coaching. To get a big name coach they’d probably have to pay out at least $5 million a year. This is Isiah’s second year in a dual role. After completing this season, Dolan has essentially saved $10 million of the $18 million due to Brown by having Isiah in the dual role. One more year and Brown’s contract in addition to Isiah coaching in his place becomes a wash. That’s my theory anyway. Another thing to factor is that even though Dolan has public pressure to fire Isiah financially he’s doing the right thing. A month ago the Knicks somehow topped Forbes Magazine as the highest valued franchise in the NBA despite their turmoil at $604 million so it’s not like the guy is losing money. But just because you are making money doesn’t mean you have to waste money.
Every year he’s been on the job, Isiah has set the Knicks back by making one bonehead acquisition or transaction after another. Example: everyone knew acquiring Zack Randolph to play alongside Eddy Curry wouldn’t work because they both were post players. They don’t complement each other. Just like Marbury (who’s now injured) and Jamal Crawford don’t complement each other. That roster is a mess of players who will never gel.
If the Knicks ever hope to become successful again they’ll need to fire Isiah and be patient. Isiah has created something that no GM or coach could fix in less than 3 years. The sooner they get Isiah out of there the sooner the rebuilding can begin. His track record says that every move he makes sets the Knicks back 1 more year. If Dolan has any sense left (which most people will question) he’ll let Isiah go after this year and block him from doing any more moves. If he does that the NBA will be a better league. I don’t like the Knicks but they are making a mockery of the NBA with
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