Isiah trying to make a comeback to the Knicks?

Isiah Thomas isn't coming back. The reality is he never really went away. The former president and coach of the Knicks has maintained a connection to the franchise even after taking the coaching job at Florida International University in Miami last season.

In fact, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, Thomas called a general manager of at least one NBA team and asked the question:

"What do you think of me coming back as GM of the Knicks?"

The GM was stunned and tried to squelch Thomas' grandiose plans. "Don't you think you should first try to come back as a scout or something?" he replied.

Thomas was replaced as team president by Donnie Walsh in April 2008 after an unsuccessful four-plus years of running the Knicks. He has promoted his comeback goals through friends, who have subsequently put the word out to certain media outlets. It's the same thing he did during the season when reports surfaced that the Clippers had contacted him about their vacated GM position. The Clippers subsequently denied the reports and eventually promoted Neil Olshey.

Walsh unwittingly started the fire when he recently told two media outlets that he would consider Thomas for a GM role, as he would any other qualified candidate, but he added that there is no role to fill. On Friday, Walsh did not return a call for comment about Thomas and the persistent rumors of a potential return.

A Garden spokesman would not comment on a report by the New York Post that Thomas was at the Knicks' offices Thursday. But several sources close to the situation said Thomas' presence is nothing out of the ordinary and that he has maintained a strong relationship with team owner James Dolan.

Regardless of his continued connection with the franchise, the sources insist Thomas is not in line for a GM position or an imminent return to the franchise in any official capacity. Allan Houston, who has served as special assistant to the president for the last two years, is the most likely candidate to move into Walsh's seat once he is ready to retire.

Several team executives around the NBA were upset that Thomas would allow the story to perpetuate and overshadow Walsh's efforts to rebuild the team and even attempt to take credit for the work.

This summer, Thomas became more visible by involving himself in the free-agent process. Walsh named Thomas among people he thanked at Amar'e Stoudemire's news conference, and that spawned rumors of a potential return.

"Isiah helped a little," said a person with knowledge of the situation, "and he's probably exaggerating his involvement."

With Chris Paul now pushing for a trade out of New Orleans, and the Knicks on his wish list, Thomas once again could emerge as a key figure. Paul has a strong respect for Thomas, whom he is most compared to as a player.

The Dolan family owns

controlling interests

in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision.

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