NBA

Knicks owner Dolan asked for sit-down with Isiah

Knicks owner James Dolan called Friday morning’s meeting with Isiah Thomas at the Mandarin Hotel in Midtown, though Thomas already was headed up to Springfield, Mass., for the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, according to a person close to Thomas.

Though Dolan has no desire to have Thomas fill Scott O’Neil’s job as Madison Square Garden sports president because it is a marketing position, the Knicks owner summoned Thomas on short notice. O’Neil was a staunch opponent of rehiring Thomas, feeling it was not good for the Knicks brand.

The Knicks declined comment on the meeting other than to offer it should not be construed as significant that Dolan and Thomas, who have maintained a friendship, had a business meeting. With an eventful summer filled with a series of roster additions, Dolan may well have wanted to pick Thomas’ brain on his new team. Certainly they weren’t discussing opening a new sports bar “Isiah & Jimmy’s.’’

Whether Dolan will rehire Thomas for the third time in an official and visible consultant capacity is unclear. Dolan hired Thomas as a part-time consultant two years ago when he was coaching Florida International before commissioner David Stern blocked the move, citing a conflict of interest.

Thomas was fired by FIU last spring after three losing seasons. Though he has reached out to Dolan relentlessly to offer assistance and advice, this time, according to a source, Dolan reached out to Thomas for the meeting.

Coach Mike Woodson is down an assistant coach after Kenny Atkinson resigned, and a source said plans are in the works to fill the position. It is doubtful Thomas would come on as an assistant, but serving as a training-camp instructor for Woodson, his former Indiana University teammate, isn’t unfathomable.

Dolan already did the unthinkable in allowing cash cow Jeremy Lin to sign with Houston by not matching the Rockets offer. So with the Knicks’ eccentric owner, everything is possible.