Walsh says Knicks are more talented now

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Knicks president Donnie Walsh did his best Tuesday to make light of reports that he was not involved in the final decision-making process for the Carmelo Anthony trade while former team president Isiah Thomas played a major role.

"I'm assuming Isiah is getting ready for the NCAA Tournament," Walsh said of Thomas, whose current job is coach at Florida International University. "That's what I'm assuming."

Sources say that Thomas was consulted in the Anthony trade, which was completed by Garden executive chairman James Dolan on Monday. But a person with knowledge of the situation said that Thomas' impact has been overstated.

"I could care less,'' Walsh said of Thomas' involvement. "There are a lot of people talking to [Dolan]. I could care less."

Thomas, a symbol of the Knicks' troubles in the 2000s who was replaced by Walsh in April 2008, has maintained a presence around the franchise, mainly because of his personal relationship with Dolan. Last August, Dolan hired Thomas as a consultant, but the NBA blocked the move because of Thomas' connection to the NCAA.

The team issued a statement on Sunday that said Dolan, Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni were "in constant communication" and "in complete agreement with everything" involving their negotiations with the Denver Nuggets for Anthony. The statement also added, "No one from outside our organization has been involved in this process in any way."

Dolan was in Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend along with Garden president and chief executive officer Hank Ratner to attend the NBA's owners' meetings regarding collective bargaining. Along with MSG Sports president Scott O'Neil and assistant general manager Allan Houston, Dolan met with Nuggets officials to negotiate the trade and also met with Anthony on Thursday night.

Walsh went to his home in Indianapolis during the All-Star break to spend time with his family and D'Antoni took a trip to Washington, D.C. Walsh insists he was kept abreast of the situation by Dolan and offered his input.

"Before Jim went out we met and talked about this deal ad infinitum," Walsh said. "I was on the phone the whole period with him or with other people about this trade."

Walsh admitted there were times he believed the offer for Anthony was growing too large, but he denied that Dolan forced him to accept it.

"And he shouldn't," said Walsh, "because I'm the one who knows basketball. My job is to advise him, this is good for your franchise. And I did that."

Walsh is in the final year of his contract, though there is a team option for the 2011-12 season, which must be picked up by April 30. Walsh, who turns 70 on March 1, also could decide to walk away.

"I haven't thought about my future, all right?" Walsh said. "I don't think it's time to think about my future. You guys are making more out of it than I'm making out of it."

The Dolan family owns

controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.