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Is Isiah's Scepter Being Taken Away?

Feb 28, 2008 – 5:43 PM
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Tom Ziller

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The New York Daily News' Frank Isola reported this morning that the Knicks are preparing to remove Isiah Thomas from his executive role to make space for new Net GM Kiki Vandeweghe. Perhaps owing the sheer numbers of times Isiah's demise has been hotly mouthed, there appears to be some skepticism (in the form of yawns) abroad.

For his part, Isola is selling it. He followed up on the arrangement he reported -- Isiah would stick around as coach, Kiki would make future personnel decisions -- a few hours ago.
That arrangement simply won't work. For starters, Vandeweghe deserves the right to hire his coach and by giving up that power he will set a bad precedent. (Who doesn't doubt that, come April 2009, following a 27-55 season, Dolan's fires Kiki and gives Isiah both titles again?) But more importantly, who but Dolan believes that Isiah is the right coach? Really, who has improved as a player?
Even when Isiah's demise as shotcaller is complete, expect a lack of cheers. As old friend Shoals notes at The Sporting Blog, the guillotine would have been too late to matter last week. Nothing in MSG will excite until Kiki selects Derrick Rose with the #2 pick in the draft.
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