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The Washington Times Online Edition

Jeffries no savior for Isiah

The desperation of Isiah Thomas is more pronounced than ever.

You could tell by his moment with Jared Jeffries last week.

Thomas proclaimed Jeffries to be the elixir that would resolve the rag-tag dimension of the Knicks.

“What Jared brings to us more so than talent, he brings chemistry,” Thomas said.

Jeffries also brings an unsettling number of rim-busting layup attempts.

This proclivity is not helpful to team chemistry or to a team’s points on the scoreboard.

Thomas was peddling a feel-good fantasy — with Jeffries cast as Superman Lite — because that is all he has left with his wreck of a franchise.

The next transaction in Manhattan that encourages talk of an upgrade will be the one detailing his departure.

MSG chairman James Dolan has granted Thomas a season to show progress, but that is being overly sanguine.

Thomas is where Stan Van Gundy was at this time last year, probably one protracted losing streak away from his next venture, most likely in a talking head capacity.

No basketball person of sane mind can be impressed with Thomas’ stints with the Raptors, the Continental Basketball Association and the Knicks.

He might be able to spot talent, with Tracy McGrady being his best find, but he has no idea how to pull it all together.

His cure for all organizational ails is to spend money and more money. The Knicks are paying double the dollar amount of Jeffries’ contract because of the luxury tax.

Jeffries is lot of things on a basketball court, some of them even positive, but he is hardly an essential part to a team looking to be a playoff contender.

This is why, in the end, after wrestling with the value of Jeffries since May, the Wizards had no choice but to let the offensively challenged one go to the Knicks.

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