Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson and Isiah Thomas met for dinner Tuesday night in Westchester County, hours after Glen Grunwald got promoted as the permanent executive VP/GM, according to sources.
Woodson, Thomas and Grunwald were teammates on the Indiana University basketball club for three seasons. Thomas, fired by Florida International earlier this month, is seeking employment and has lobbied hard with owner James Dolan to try to get back to the Knicks in some capacity.
Woodson and Thomas were with their wives and could be seen chowing down on Italian food and wine at Serafina in White Plains. Thomas has kept his residence in Purchase and has been there since getting the boot. Woodson has been friends with Thomas a long time and will always be. Thomas also may have insight into the Heat, as Thomas has worked in Miami for three years.
“I’m not commenting on that,” Woodson said of the dinner. “I’m entitled to eat with whomever I want to eat with.’’
The Post has reported Dolan keeps a friendship with Thomas but is not inclined to hire him in an official capacity. Thomas, Grunwald and Woodson had a dinner in Miami in late January before the Heat game, though several other Knick staffers attended.
At the time, Woodson told The Post, “You’re talking about 30 years of friendships there. Isiah had an off day from his team. We had to go get dinner. It was nice.’’
* Jeremy Lin did light shooting and running drills but looked ginger in moving around and testing his surgically repaired knee. Woodson said he still thinks Lin can get back to action by the second round, but it would be hard to imagine Lin being effective thrown into the playoff cauldron after being out six weeks.
“He’s starting to smell the gym a little more,’’ Woodson said. “It’s great. I asked him yesterday how he felt after running. He felt pretty good. But we have to put him through drills where he’s cutting and his knee is not swelling up and he’s not physically sore.’’
Asked a best-case scenario, Woodson said, “I like to think if we’re able to get out of the first round, he should be ready for the second round I think . . . He’s got to come to us and say he’s confident.’’
* Mike Krzyzewski was in the Garden scouting for the U.S. Olympic Team. He s expected to tab Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler from the Knicks. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are candidates from the Clippers.