Isiah Thomas had recent talks with Clippers owner Donald Sterling about a position in the organization, according to a Los Angeles source last night at the Garden.
Thomas, who’s in an untitled role with the Knicks and reports to team president Donnie Walsh, was with Walsh during the Pac-10 tournament two weeks ago. Walsh and Thomas spent the entire day together.
The L.A. source said Thomas spoke with Sterling and Clippers coach/GM Mike Dunleavy about a potential personnel job. Thomas told them he would be in Los Angeles quite a bit next season because his daughter, Lauren, will be attending Loyola Marymount in L.A.
The source said talks didn’t go anywhere, because the club does not have a current position suited for Thomas, though it recently fired Elgin Baylor, who was vice president of basketball operations. Thomas’ expertise is the draft and his track record with the Knicks is solid in that department — with late first-round picks David Lee, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler and Renaldo Balkman all having respectable NBA careers, and second-rounder Trevor Ariza shining with the Lakers.
Walsh said he was unaware of Thomas’ talks with the Clippers, though he spent a full day at the Pac-10 tournament with him. Walsh said Thomas has permission to talk to other clubs.