By MARC BERMAN
Read between the lines of Isiah Thomas’ explanation last night before the Toronto win on why he stood pat at Thursday’s deadline. It’s obvious he’s just babysitting right now for the next guy, as we keep reporting.
Isiah even made a reference to “three, four years down the road.” As if he’s actually going to be here.
Read ’em and weep. Or celebrate Isiah has made his last trade as the Knicks band leader. “We want to keep moving in the right direction and definitely didn’t want to take a step back. As painful as this has been, as is, including for myself, the most important thing is we don’t want to do anything that’s going to hurt us three, four years down the road.”
“I think it’s time for you to be more cautious and yo’re a little more conservative than you would normally be. We’re not trying to save the day with that one savior bad contract that goes on for a lifetime.”
In other words, let the next guy figure it out.
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BRIAN LEWIS was at practice today and filed this report for the Knicks blog.
A day after Jamal Crawfordâs 43-point domination of Toronto, Isiah Thomas called him one of the most improved players in the NBA. Thomas praised his adjustment to the point, but said playing him on the ball the entire game takes away from his explosiveness.
âIt would take away from his overall play if we stuck him out there with the basketball for 40 minutes. Heâs great coming off screens and you can move him all around the floor,ââ Thomas said. âWe need another ballhandler out there with him. When Nate (Robinson) has been healthy heâs been that answer.ââ
When asked whether the club would make room and try to sign a veteran, pass-first point guard should one shake loose soon, Thomas said âI donât foresee that happening right now, but you never know. Hopefully if we do scratch our way back into the playoff hunt, and youâre coming down at the end, thatâs something you may look at. If youâre two or three games out the last couple weeks of the season you may look at some additional help.ââ