First Stephon Marbury. Now Lenny Wilkens.

Is Lenny Wilkens the right guy to get the most out of Stephon Marbury? AP

Apparently Isiah Thomas views Brooklyn as the answer to the Knicks' problems.

What's next? Spike Lee as starting center?

Thomas' decision to bring in Wilkens as Knicks coach is certainly a big surprise, like something only Mars Blackmon might dream up. Other than his New York City pedigree, Wilkens just doesn't seem like a good fit.

For one, Wilkens is notoriously laid-back. He's not exactly the first guy one thinks of to light a fire under the Knicks.

For another, Wilkens' recent teams in Atlanta and Toronto weren't exactly known for playing intense defense. New York's biggest problem of late under Don Chaney, who was shown the door on Wednesday, was its inability to stop people.

Perhaps most surprising, Wilkens' hiring all but assures Isiah won't be taking over as coach any day soon. While details of Wilkens' contract have yet to be disclosed, the genteel Hall of Famer almost certainly would not have signed on to life in the Big Apple fishbowl without the security of a four- or five-year contract worth at least $20 million or so. Even Isiah would have a hard time getting his Cablevision bosses to eat that contract any day soon.

It looks as if Isiah is taking a page here from Jerry West's handbook in Memphis. He's hoping that like Hubie Brown, another old-timer with a reputation as a teacher, Wilkens can reach the Knicks with his old-school touch. Sounds good in theory; but then so did last week's Marbury trade.

As Chaney found out, patience is running low these days in Gotham.

Herb Williams made the most of his one game as Knicks coach. Taking over on an interim basis after Don Chaney was fired, Williams guided New York to a 120-110 victory Wednesday night over the Orlando Magic. FULL STORY Isiah Thomas pulled off a shocker on a bizarre day even by New York Knicks standards, firing Don Chaney and his two top assistants and hiring Lenny Wilkens as head coach. The 66-year-old Wilkens is the NBA leader in career coaching victories -- and losses. "I think he's a perfect fit," Thomas said Wednesday. FULL STORY

Wilkens is a good man who knows his Xs and Os. And, yes, he's the NBA's all-time winningest coach. But he's also the all-time losingest coach. And there is little in his recent history to suggest he is the right guy to turn around the Knicks.

Maybe Wilkens will become the perfect tutor to his fellow Brooklynite Marbury. Maybe he'll get Dikembe Mutombo to play like he did in their old Hawks days. Maybe he'll get the Knicks to the playoffs.

Or maybe the Knicks will continue to be a passive bunch defensively and an unbalanced team offensively, with no big men to draw double teams inside. Maybe they'll get to the playoffs, but get bounced in the first round. Maybe Wilkens will stand on the sidelines with his arms folded while the Garden fans boo, like they unfairly did to Chaney, who deserved more than the few days he got to work Marbury into the mix.

Earlier Wednesday Knicks fans were hearing rumors of Mike Fratello being named coach. The Czar and Marv Albert reunited in Gotham. Strange stuff, indeed.

Turns out Isiah had an even bigger New York surprise in store. Knicks fans can only hope Brooklyn still holds some of its old magic.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com.