That would be a terrible mistake. Thanks to Basketball Reference.com (see link at left), I was able to gather some evidence of PJ's futility.

1994-1995 Portland Trailblazers – 44-38, Lost in 1st round of Playoffs
1995-1996 Portland Trailblazers – 44-38, Lost in 1st round of Playoffs
1996-1997 Portland Trailblazers – 49-33, Lost in 1st round of Playoffs
1997-1998 Golden State Warriors – 16-63, Did not qualify for Playoffs
1998-1999 Golden State Warriors – 21-29, Did not qualify for Playoffs
1999-2000 Golden State Warriors – 6-21, Did not qualify for Playoffs

PJ's W-L record over his 6 seasons is, 183-222(.452) and in the playoffs, 3-9(.250)

Latrell choked PJ on December 1, 1997, at which point Golden State was 1-13 in PJ's first year as coach of Golden State. They had finished the previous year 30-52 with Rick Adelman.

Given how poorly Golden State played the remainder of his time there, I think Latrell was on to something. Please Isiah, don't doom the Knicks to first-round exits from the playoffs.

This past thursday, the Knicks took a look at these two players:

Julius Hodge, a 6-7, 205 lb, G/F who hails from the Bronx. A senior who can score - he averaged better than 17 points a game for his last three years of college. He shot for a nice percentage from the field too, .507 as a junior and .493 his senior season. But his 3 point and FT percentages fell off significantly as a senior. Nice size shows in his rebounds, better than 6 a game the last couple of years, and 4.8 assists to boot this past year. According to the Knicks site, Julius says, "“I think I am mainly a point guard in the NBA". I like the idea of a 6-7 PG on the Knicks. But unless he can play defense, the Knicks don't need another SG/SF swingman.

Hakim Warrick, a 6-8, 218 lb, senior F out of Syracuse. Warrick has nice stats - better than 8 boards and 19-20 points per game over the last few years. But the Knicks need an undersized PF like a hole in the head. And I don't know if his defense and speed are suitable for perimeter defense. Can he guard NBA SF? I don't know. He does not have enough steals and blocks to indicate that he is an intense defender, which is what the Knicks really need.

I like these two better than the other prospects the Knicks brought in. And Hodge does have some interesting size if he ends up at the point. The Knicks really need to move Goatbury. But assuming they don't, the need a stud at PF and a legitimate center - which means someone taller than 6-9 at Center. As for PF, they need a athletic monster like Kenyon Martin, only one who's a bit less of a prick.

The Knicks are reportedly working out the following players today:

Stephen Graham, a 6-6, 215 lb Guard from Oklahoma State. A senior with nice size, and shot .455 from 3 point range last year. Decent shooting percentage I suppose.

Jamaal Levy, a 6-9, 186 lb Forward from Wake Forest (from Panama originally). This senior’s scouting report says he has the game of a PF in a SF body. But he can’t shoot free-throws (shot .506 last year), and he is too skinny. Way too skinny.

Chris Thomas, a 6-1, 190 lb PG from Notre Dame. This senior may be a good point guard, according to his scouting report, but he is an Allen Iverson type-scorer, which means he will take 30 shots to get 20 points. His shooting percentage this past year was only .346.

Ricky Shields, a 6-4, 190 lb G from Rutgers. This senior is not a great shooter, but he likes to shoot 3 pointers. He only shot .362 from the field this year.

Why are the Knicks looking at these guys? Except for Graham, they all have major flaws. Uhhhh, the Knicks.