NBA furthers its investigation
The NBA could reject Isiah Thomas' consulting deal with the Knicks if his responsibilities as the head coach of Florida International University conflict with his new role with New York. Credit: AP, 2009
The NBA has brought in an outside agency to investigate claims that Knicks scout Rodney Heard, who was hired by Isiah Thomas in 2006, held illegal predraft workouts.
The investigation already has begun, a league source told Newsday, with some preliminary interviews based on a report by Yahoo! Sports, which broke the story last week. It still is very early in the process, but the fact that the league hired a third-party agency suggests the matter is being handled with serious concern for liability.
The report alleged that Pacers guard Brandon Rush blew out a knee in one of Heard's workouts in Marietta, Ga., before the 2007 draft. The injury caused Rush to withdraw from the draft and return to school. He became the 13th pick in the 2008 draft.
Heard kept his job in the organization after Walsh replaced Thomas and still is employed by the team, though that is tenuous in light of the report. If the investigation finds the Knicks guilty of any wrongdoing, the league source said they likely will face heavy fines. The most severe punishment would be the forfeiture of future draft picks, which could derail any chance to trade for Carmelo Anthony before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
More on Isiah
Isiah Thomas hopes "every single day of the week'' that he will replace Donnie Walsh when the Knicks' president retires, Thomas said in an ESPNNew York.com story.
Thomas initially was hired back by the Garden in a consultant role in August, but the NBA blocked the move because of Thomas' position as head coach at Florida International. But the belief remains that Thomas will continue to try to get himself back with the organization despite heavy opposition from the fan base.
In the ESPNNewYork.com story, he said he doesn't expect to be back, "but knowing what I know about the game and the relationships that I have, I'm confident that if no crazy -- happens, I think I can win in New York, and I think I was really close to winning in New York.''
Walsh, who turns 70 in March and has one year left on his contract, gruffly declined to address Thomas' comments but did acknowledge the perpetual talk of his retirement by emphasizing, "I think it's a choice that I make.''
The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.
