Thomas succeeds in destroying Knicks' future

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Attention everyone, I have an announcement. We are all being unfair to Isiah Thomas.

I can't take credit for that statement though, because this decree comes from Thomas, who last week chided reporters, columnists, broadcasters, the pretzel guy, basically everyone within earshot of the Knicks hoop el jefe for falsely accusing the GM of running the Knicks payroll upwards of $125 million dollars.

It's only $93 million. C'mon, the guys he paid to go away don't count.

Thomas is right, of course. As reputable journalists we shouldn't count the $18.5 million he paid Shandon Anderson to buy a house on South Beach. Nor should we count the $12.5 million salary amnesty casualty Jerome Williams is being paid over the next two years to act as Toronto's community representative. And we can't forget Allan Houston: New York fans can tune in to hear Houston's insights on the MSG network for the low, low price of $16 million. It could be worse; had Houston not retired, the Knicks would have been on the hook for $24 million more. Thank God for insurance.

Arguing semantics about the Knicks salary cap is like pointing out that the toilet won't flush on the Titanic. Regardless of when Thomas' dead weight comes off the cap, the Knicks still will be strapped with a completely unmanageable payroll. Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford are all under contract through the 2007-2008 season, with Marbury's contract coming in at a cap-killing $21.7 million in the final year. Like the Titanic, the Knicks are sunk.

What to do? Try looking at Orlando as a blueprint for success. In the summer of 2000 the Magic were $20 million under the salary cap and used that flexibility to acquire two superstars, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. Injuries and indifference plagued Hill and McGrady's tenure in Orlando, but the philosophy itself was sound: develop young talent while getting far enough under the cap to bring in a star that can make the difference.

Six years later, Orlando is at it again, this time with one key component that was missing in 2000: Dwight Howard. With the expiring contracts of Penny Hardaway (thanks, Isiah) and Hill set to come off the books in '06 and '07, respectively, Orlando could conceivably be more than $25 million under the cap after the 2007 season. Picture this Magic fans: opening night, 2007. The Magic boasts a lineup of Howard and Darko Milicic, a couple of lottery picks (Adam Morrison, Greg Oden) and two free agents (Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups) in the prime of their career. It could happen.

Not to worry, though, Knicks fans. In 2007-2008 your payroll will be all the way down to $87 million, assuming Thomas doesn't add to it before then. But that's a safe bet ... right?