Walsh backed the former All-Star a year ago when Indiana was looking for a new head coach, but Larry Bird picked Jim O'Brien. It seems Jackson is the leading candidate.

Herb Williams, a longtime assistant coach and former player with the Knicks, did have a preliminary discussion with Walsh. Tom Thibodeau, currently a Celtics' assistant, and Chuck Person, a Kings' assistant, seem to be in the running, as well. And since Walsh values defense and rebounding, he might want to speak with recently-deposed Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

The goal is to get somebody in place before the June 26 draft.

Waiting to make a move did cost the Knicks an opportunity to speak with Scott Skiles, who signed with the Bucks shortly after Isiah Thomas was pulled off the sideline.

"I could tell he had an offer he was fairly close to taking, and I couldn't react as fast as I perhaps had to because of the position he was in with Milwaukee," Walsh said.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: There wasn't anything happening on the court all season to get excited about, so New York didn't react until the Knicks went out and hired Donnie Walsh as the new president of basketball operations with two weeks to go in the season. It was a signal that ownership was no longer charmed by Isiah Thomas, who failed to deliver in four-plus seasons as president and two seasons as head coach and was fired.

TURNING POINT: Embattled head coach Isiah Thomas lost respect in the locker room after Stephon Marbury learned he might get benched on a flight to Phoenix where the Knicks were kicking off the first extended road trip of the season. Marbury went AWOL for a game, and when he came back, Thomas gave the controversial point guard extended minutes against the wishes of his teammates. When the Knicks got home following the winless trip out West, they had a 2-7 record and no confidence.