Thomas hiring could create conflict of interest
To the surprise of many fans, The New York Knicks have announced that Isiah Thomas will be returning to the organization as a special consultant to general manager Donnie Walsh.
Thomas, whose tenure as coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Knicks from 2003-08 was wrought with failure, told ESPN that he will be returning to advise the team on potential drafts picks, trades and other personnel decisions.
"I'll be available to [Walsh] for that," Thomas told ESPN’s Andy Katz by phone. "I've always said that if there's a GM position that should ever open that I would be interested in going back to the NBA as a GM for the right spot and the right opportunity.”
“(He will be available) to assist the team’s senior management in various capacities, including player recruitment,” read the official statement released by the Knicks.
The move comes perhaps as a shock to those have followed the Knicks in recent years; Thomas’ previous run with the team has been widely criticized by fans and analysts alike.
Despite having one of the league’s highest payrolls, the Knicks only saw post-season play once during Thomas’ tenure. His draft day trades have been best described as shortsighted, bringing on oft-injured players with mid-level contracts in exchange for lottery picks in talent-rich drafts. There has also been speculation that he called for a hard foul against Denver Nuggets’ J.R Smith in which the ensuing brawl resulted in the suspension of four Knicks players and his off-court antics have cost the team $11.6M in a sexual harassment lawsuit with a former employee.
Despite all this, Thomas says he has been under contract with the team since his departure and has remained close with Walsh and Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan.
"I'm excited to work with the Knicks again," said Thomas. "I wish my mom was still alive to see this."
A conflict of interest?
But the announcement is perhaps premature; as Thomas will also stay on as head coach of the NCAA’s Florida International, his capacity as a Knicks consultant would put him in violation of several of the leagues rules concerning involvement with collegiate players.
"We are reviewing the agreement, in consultation with the Knicks, for compliance with league rules," said NBA spokesman Tim Frank.
Under NBA rules, team personnel are not permitted to scout high school players nor are they allowed to have contact with draft-eligible college players, both things Thomas would presumably have to do as an NCAA coach.
The NCAA on the other hand has said that Thomas taking a consultant job in the NBA would not be in violation of their policies and has cleared him to take the job.
“NCAA member institutions are provided the discretion to establish their own policies regarding employment and income arrangements between their athletics department staff members and professional sports organizations,” said NCAA spokeswoman Jennifer Royer. “An NCAA coach must, however, still comply with NCAA bylaws as they relate to the recruitment of prospects and the scouting of opponents."
"I couldn't be the GM,'' said Thomas of the NCAA’s restrictions. "But we checked with the NCAA and you can do it. I'm excited about what we're building here at FIU and that will continue to be my main focus. In my spare time, when I do have time, I'll consult and advise the Knicks whenever they ask for my help."
In his first year coaching FIU, Thomas led the team to a 7-25 record, going 4-14 in the Sun Belt conference.
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