can isiah thomas and LARRY BROWN save the knicks?

Amar’e Stoudemire loped into the lobby of his Tel Aviv seaside hotel, bouncing an orange basketball, wearing a gray T-shirt with the legend “Jerusalem-Israel” and side-by-side flags of Israel and the United States, a two-flag pin he said he was given as a gift, and a large black crocheted skullcap on his head.

As a part of the deal, the Knicks will send Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and a 2014 first-round draft pick to the Nuggets, who would get additional picks and cash, the sources said. Along with [Carmelo] Anthony, New York would acquire Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman.

New York will send Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to Minnesota as part of the deal in exchange for Corey Brewer.

Phil Jackson, Knicks finalizing deal

Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks are expected to finalize a deal that will give the legendary coach control
of the club's front office by the end of this week, according to a league source.

"Everything is pretty much done," the source said. "There are just some little things here and there that need
to be worked out, but the Knicks are very confident that this is essentially done."

An official announcement might not come until next week, the source said.

There has been speculation that Jackson is using the Knicks to get a top-flight job with another franchise,
particularly the Los Angeles Lakers, but the source said the Knicks have no fear of Jackson leaving them at the
altar for another team.

Jackson will take over the Knicks' basketball operations department from president and general manager Steve
Mills. Mills, however, will remain an integral part of the organization, according to the source.

While Jackson will certainly spend plenty of time in New York, it is not clear exactly how much, the source said.

"I think if he has the wherewithal to understand that these jobs are difficult, that they're frustrating and he's not
going to be able to coach the players unless he wants to, I'm sure he could do a great job," Jerry West told The
New York Post on Monday night. "Coaching and being an executive are different things. But he has a lot to draw
on in terms of experience with players, how to organize teams and how to put them together. The biggest thing
to learn is that you're going to need a lot of really good players."