Of course it’s ridiculous that James Dolan of Madison Square Garden wants to hire Isiah Thomas to consult with his Knicks. The guy is the prime reason the Knicks are in the tank right now.

But, and I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about this right now, I cannot imagine that consulting contract is even legal. The NBA has rules about hiring people who coach college teams — anybody who has contact with underclassmen can’t work for an NBA team. And I’m shocked the NCAA and Florida International haven’t weighed in, too.

I mean, seriously — the NCAA wants one of its coaches taking a check from an NBA team? And a college that’s paying him to coach its team wants him to be on the payroll of an NBA team?

The whole thing is just about the nuttiest story I’ve heard in a long time. Crazy. And it just can’t stick, can it?

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There were rumors coming out of New York last week that Donnie Walsh would be resigning soon as the president of the Knicks and that Kevin Pritchard was seen as a possible successor.

Funny, though. Walsh is denying he’s retiring and also denying he’s even spoken to Pritchard, or his agent, Warren LeGarie, about Pritchard. The Knicks coach, Mike D’Antoni, is also represented by LeGarie.

There is now even a buzz within the league that LeGarie was trying to organize some sort of coup to get Pritchard into that job, in order to protect D’Antoni’s status as the team’s head coach.

It’s similar, of course, to that other rumor a few months ago out of New Jersey, that LeGarie tried to orchestrate a scenario that would slide Del Harris into the coaching job of the Nets and Kiki Vandeweghe off the bench and back into his general manager chair with the Nets.

Here’s a great little look at how LeGarie tried to manipulate Vandeweghe’s situation in Denver and how he conducts his business in the NBA:

Naturally, those who have dealt with the awfully fluent, commendably cunning LeGarie know better. He believes unconditionally that you have got to have at least two conflicts of interest to be successful. His cup runneth over in that regard.

Many of his coaching (Mike D’Antoni, the Thunder’s Scott Brooks, Kurt Rambis of the Timberwolves) and decision-making (Vandeweghe, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, Sixers GM Ed Stefanski) customers are strewn throughout the NBA.

Some clients (Chris Wallace) hire other clients (Lionel Hollins) after another client (Marc Iavaroni) was paid to leave the Grizzlies.

Some clients (Kim Hughes and Neil Olshey) replace another client (Mike Dunleavy) in Clippers management, one job at a time, at least temporarily, as LeGarie queues other clients to succeed them, just in case.

“You’re right,” yet another client concurs. “Warren will campaign for Kim and Neil . . . unless he can get another client in there.”

That can be rewarding if you’re the client-of-the-day that LeGarie is selling. Or it can be detrimental to your career if he recklessly pushes his luck and bullies the wrong billionaire purely to show how slick he is and/or to test his juice quotient.

Hmmm. “recklessly pushes his luck and bullies the wrong billionaire…”??? Are we seeing a pattern emerge here?

Now, are you still having problems believing that LeGarie possibly tried to orchestrate a coup with the Trail Blazers that would have pushed Tom Penn into the president’s chair and Larry Miller out the door?

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After Greg Oden went down Saturday night, I was still pretty sure that Portland would be able to play well enough to make the playoffs. I mean, they still have Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and a nice group of role players who can help.

But then I watched Monday night’s debacle in Madison Square Garden and saw a Knicks team with not half as much talent dismantle the Trail Blazers. Ugh. I’ve seen guys defended better in H-O-R-S-E games than what I saw last night.

Man, when teams make 50 percent of their three-point field goals, it’s almost always for one reason — because they’re getting wide-open shots. Bingo. That’s what I saw. And a lot of dunks and easy baskets. And a lot of New York second chances.

What’s wrong here? Seriously. There is something going on with this team over and above the injuries. There’s either something missing or something there that’s causing players not to care as much.

I can usually get a pretty good read on what’s up with teams. But this one is a real mystery. A conundrum. But something’s happening and the real story of this season isn’t injuries — it’s what’s gotten into the Portland Trail Blazers to cause such a massive change in the team’s character.

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That’s what Hall of Famer Pete Vecsey is writing in New York:

No firm offer was made that evening, says a Blazer source. However, it was felt a satisfactory compromise could be reached (Bartelstein wanted $50 million over five, Portland countered with $28 million over four with an escape clause after three) if Lee told them he was as serious about them as they were in him.

“I was given one night to think it over,” Lee said. “I couldn’t commit. I was worried about playing time. Aldridge is All-Star-caliber and they’ve got a huge investment in Oden.”

Interesting. Lee told Vecsey he was given only one day to make up his mind because the Blazers had Andre Miller waiting.

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The New York Daily News is reporting that Jason Kidd’s free agency will begin Wednesday with a visit to the Knicks. He’d have to want to be a Knick pretty bad because all New York can offer is a mid-level exception, which is a lot less than Dallas or Portland could give him.

The story, by the way, also mentions that Kidd will meet with the Trail Blazers.

And in other news involving potential Trail Blazer point guards, the Detroit News is reporting that the No. 1 free-agent target for the Pistons will be Chicago combo guard Ben Gordon. That’s important because most people believe if Gordon leaves the Bulls, Chicago will not be interested in trading Kirk Hinrich.

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Sean does a real good job of reporting them and debunking them all at the same time right here. For Sergio Rodriguez, I hope there’s some truth to the Knicks rumors. New York (or Toronto) would be a great spot for him, a place where he can play his game and flourish.

But I have no interest in the Trail Blazers moving up in the draft. I’m weary of the young players trying to earn a spot in the league. I want to see this team get MORE experienced, not LESS experienced.

As far as all the David Lee stuff, I just can’t see it — except in one way that some Blazer fans probably wouldn’t want to see happen. The only way it makes any sense at all to me for Lee to come to Portland (probably in a sign-and-trade) is for the Blazers to have some idea about trading LaMarcus Aldridge. I’m not saying they do — I’m just saying it’s the only thing that makes any sense if they’re trying to get Lee.

Lee would be big man No. 4 in Portland, behind Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla and Aldridge. Why, as a free agent, would he want to do that? Plus, he’s going to be seeking a contract that will pay him starting-power-forward money. You can’t give your backup power forward the kind of dough Lee is going to get.

It makes no sense. But if you could take Aldridge, put him with Rudy Fernandez and get a Chris Paul, for example, would you do that if you knew you had David Lee?

I’m not saying I’ve heard this or that I even expect it to happen. Frankly, I’m making up a scenario. But I’m just saying I don’t think Aldridge is untouchable and if I thought I could get David Lee without giving up Aldridge, I think I’d shop Aldridge for a superstar point guard.

So really then, this whole exercise comes down to this — who would you rather have as your starting power forward: David Lee or LaMarcus Aldridge?

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Another one of those NBA games when a single point changes the mood of Portland sports fans. I mean, can you imagine — if Brandon Roy can’t get to the basket and convert that looping layup, the whole town is depressed over back-to-back miserable losses to lousy teams.

This near-fiasco showcased what’s good and bad about the team right there in one afternoon. And in a game with more runs than a kindergarten class having prunes for its mid-afternoon snack.

The Blazers opened the game as determined to go inside as they have in any game all season. It was amazing. Greg Oden, so nervous about what he knew should be a big game for him, turned the ball over the first two times he touched it and LaMarcus Aldridge followed with a turnover of his own. But Oden steadied down for the rest of the game and showed everyone that even though he wasn’t brought here to be an offensive force, and even though his game at that end of the floor has miles to go, he can still be dominant because so many teams — this one, especially — have NOBODY capable of guarding him.

Seriously, this was a game where Oden could have scored 40 if his team had gone into him — OR, drawn enough double-teams to guarantee wide-open shots for everyone else. But, of course, Oden had foul trouble eventually — but not before it was clear he wasn’t going to get 30 minutes on the court, anyway, and that his team would not consistently take advantage of his edge inside. Guys, is there something wrong with watching your big man dunk in people’s faces all game long? Do you have to inevitably settle for those 20-footers in EVERY game? Yes, of course. The answer is always yes.

On defense, it was yet another nightmare. You take a team that is the 28th worse shooting team in the NBA and let it flirt with 50 percent shooting all afternoon and you’re going to have problems. The Blazers got six blocks from Oden — including a miraculous one on David Lee that was a game-saver in the final minute — but otherwise just allowed, again, too many wide-open, uncontested shots.

To be fair, New York caught one of those spurts in the second half when it was raining threes and some of them were rather incredible. And there are tough matchup problems for the Blazers, since New York doesn’t play with a post man. But man, you have to get a hand in people’s face when they shoot the ball. And — if they’re going to give you a matchup dilemma on one end, you’ve simply got to turn around and make it hurt them on the other end.

They have no post guy — make them pay for it!

There is some anxiety around the Trail Blazers right now. You can just feel it. It’s the uncertainty of not really understanding why they’re struggling and yes, the inevitable mystery around the trading deadline. It’s funny how people who have been saying for months the team should stand pat are now begging for a deal — as if that will somehow shape up the team’s defense. Which, of course, it won’t.

We’ll talk more about trades soon and I’m not necessarily against a deal. But I’m just saying if you think it’s going to suddenly help Portland understand its defensive rotations I believe you’re mistaken.

At one point, against the New York freaking Knicks, Sunday afternoon the Blazers were outscored 37-7. The Knicks just weren’t quite good enough down the stretch to seal the deal.

If you’re looking at the big picture, you’re still asking the same questions you’ve been asking for a while now — at what point will this team get better on defense? When will it really show it understands the benefits of playing from the inside out?

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This is a dangerous game, with the way Portland’s been playing. And the first home game after a weeklong road trip is always tough. The Knicks, meanwhile, are going to feel they’ve finally got a chance for a win after an incredible stretch of playing, Cleveland, Boston and the Lakers in a row.

Mike D’Antoni has always been good at spreading the floor on offense and breaking down your defense. Portland could have big problems if the Knicks run some quick pick-and-rolls and take it to the hoop. They’re the second-worst shooting team in the league but won’t be in this game if they get to the basket.

Very interested to see this matchup because I expect a pretty good bounceback from Portland after that miserable game at OKC.

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Here is what I’ve heard this afternoon:

• The Knicks will NOT do a deal this far away from the trading deadline in February. Makes no sense not to wait until the very end to get the best possible deal.
• New York is apparently looking for SERVICEABLE players with expiring contracts. Look, that’s a team with a chance at the playoffs and by accepting expiring contracts from players who are injured or not good enough to help it would be a big blow to their playoff chances and hurt their credibility with their fanbase.
• Lee is a restricted free agent this summer. The Knicks have no intention of matching a max offer and don’t want to let him go with no compensation. Hence, look for a deal prior to the deadline.
• There is some consternation around the league about Portland’s desire for Lee. If Oden and Aldridge get reasonable minutes on the floor as starters and with Przybilla as the backup center, how can anyone justify Lee making big money and not playing significant minutes? Could it mean that eventually Przybilla gets dealt? You would think it’s a possibility.
• The Knicks have some interest in Outlaw and Rodriguez. But they’re going to drive a pretty hard bargain for Lee. Portland may not want to part with what it’s going to take, particularly for a player who may be getting limited minutes here.
• Several people asked me this question: “Isn’t it time for Portland to finally do some sort of deal?”

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This time it’s the New York Daily News talking about a three-team trade that would bring Lee to Portland and send Channing Frye and Marcus Camby back to the Knicks. Frank Isola characterizes Portland’s desire for Lee as “dogged pursuit.”

However, Wendell Maxey has been all over this story for days at Hoopsworld and doesn’t sound so optimistic about a deal getting done.

At a certain point, after weeks of rumors, you have to figure there must be something to the idea that Portland likes David Lee a lot. He’s a 14-point, 10-rebound a game guy who plays hard every night. What’s not to like?

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