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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / March 29.
  • NEW YORK — After the latest chapter in the “Chronicles of Isiah,” nobody comes out looking good.

    Not the NBA.

    Not Isiah Thomas.

    And most certainly not Jim Dolan and the New York Knicks.

    Twenty-four hours after Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim — two of the most well respected men in the college basketball world — publicly called out the many  conflicts of interest inherent in having a Division 1 head coach also consulting for the Knicks, Thomas on Wednesday “rescinded” the agreement.

    “After speaking with Commissioner Stern and Knicks executives, it has become apparent that my new agreement violates certain NBA bylaws,” Thomas, the head coach at Florida International, said in a statement. “Because of this, I have decided to rescind my contract with the team. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Jim Dolan, Donnie Walsh, Mike D’Antoni and the entire Knicks organization, and I want to thank them for affording me this opportunity.”

    The Nets obtained forward Troy Murphy from the Indiana Pacers as part of a four-team trade which also involved the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets.

    Murphy played his high school ball at the Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J.

    As part of the transaction, the Rockets acquire Nets guard Courtney Lee and send Trevor Ariza to New Orleans, with Indiana acquiring Darren Collison and James Posey from the Hornets.

    “We are very pleased to add Troy to our roster,” said Nets GM Billy King.  “He is a quality power forward who has the ability to stretch the floor, and we feel that he will be a very positive addition to our frontcourt rotation.”

    NEW YORK — After Corey Fisher poured in 105 points in a summer league game Saturday night in The Bronx, Villanova coach Jay Wright knows one thing for sure.

    “Fish” can fill it up.

    “I’ve played in a summer league and haven’t taken 105 shots in the season,” Wright cracked Wednesday after Team USA practiced at John Jay College in Manhattan.

    Wright also joked that he doubted Fisher played much ‘D’ in the game.

    “I guarantee if it was summer league, Corey gave up 102 if he scored 105,” Wright said. “I guarantee it.”

    West Virginia picked up a verbal commitment Tuesday from Tommie McCune, a 6-foot-7 power forward from Saginaw, Mich.

    McCune, ranked No. 29 at his position in the Class of 2011 by Rivals, committed after an unofficial visit to Morgantown Tuesday.

    “Tommie McCune has committed to West Virginia,” All Ohio Red coach Benji Burke told Alex Kline of The Recruit Scoop. “He committed about twenty minutes ago.

    “He thought it was the right time to commit and I think it is a great decision.”

    NEW YORK — Mike D’Antoni said the Knicks utilized Isiah Thomas to recruit LeBron James because James was “slipping away.”

    “Everybody was on board,” D’Antoni said Tuesday after Team USA practice at John Jay College.

    “It was like, ‘OK, let’s pull out all the stops. LeBron is slipping away. And can anybody get inside his circle?’ And so we just tried everybody. And everybody tried their contacts and nothing really worked. It was kind of one of about 10 things we tried.”

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