If the Knicks really are interested, Donnie Walsh is available.

The respected basketball administrator went public with a decision to leave Indiana after nearly 25 years, which is going to increase the amount of speculation about Isiah Thomas’ future here in New York.

Knicks owner James Dolan has already had preliminary conversations with the Bronx native.

Walsh plans to stay on with the Pacers until the end of the season. He didn’t offer any hints about where he’s going next.

“I’m not sure,” he told The Indianapolis Star. “As a result, I’m not going to comment on any of it until I have a better idea.”

Stay tuned.

For some reason, Isiah Thomas nearly went down a different path this morning after shoot-around.

He was back to providing lengthy explanations when questions were raised about some of the situations we’ve been questioning over the last week, stuff like winning vs. evaluating. There was even a rambling speech about standing fast in the face of constant speculation.

Think Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

“Anytime you’re losing like this and you’re having as tough a year as I’ve had personally and professionally, it’s definitely tough,” Thomas said. “However, you persevere, you overcome, you gain strength, you move on, you knuckle under and you continue fighting. You get your tail kicked and you get back up. My strength and my resolve, if anything, I definitely know that I’m tough enough to take it now. I still feel strong and ready to go out and compete, but I guess there comes a time when you always have to get tested, and the only way you get tested is to really get knocked down. We definitely got knocked down, and I’m strong enough to get back up. If there’s one thing you can be sure of, I’ll never quit and I’ll keep coming back.”

So they’ll have to show you the door?

“You gotta kill me because I’m never stopping,” Thomas added.

And then when he was asked whether he’s learned anything new over the last few days that could affect his tenure, it sounded like Thomas wanted to share.

“I … you know … let me try to say this … well … I guess I can’t say it any different than I’ve been saying it,” Thomas said. “I don’t talk about my job status and that’s something that when you lose, that type of speculation is always there. That’s why I don’t intend to stay in this position in terms of losing.”

Who knows? Maybe it’s all an act, but it’s a good one, I’ll give him that.

Randolph Morris deserved better.

What kind of person would throw a kid who doesn’t know how to swim off the back of a boat? That’s kind of what Isiah Thomas did in this situation.

Morris went 2 for 16 in the last two games, and never looked comfortable. He’s better than what showed. My biggest issue with the developing big man is that he knows the Knicks are desperate for somebody to block shots and rebound. He didn’t make much of an effort in either area.

That’s how role players stick in the league, find a hole and fill it.

It sounds like Morris wants to come back next season, but I’m guessing the Knicks won’t lock in until they’ve gone through a busy summer and see what kind of roster space they have.

There goes another one!

Nate Robinson is doubtful tonight in Minnesota because of a sprained right knee suffered in the fourth quarter of last night’s loss to Memphis. He came down hard after sprinting back and fouling Mike Miller with six minutes to go. Robinson never lost the football mentality, so I’m betting he won’t be gone long.

Of course, Isiah Thomas might decide to give somebody else an extended run.

Mardy Collins will get more time now. Renaldo Balkman should get some minutes in the backcourt, as well. Fred Jones and Quentin Richardson can have whatever time remains because we already know what they can do.

Here’s a little something I noticed last night that doesn’t make a lot of sense … Jared Jeffries continues to get playing time even while Thomas insists he needs to get the recent draft picks on the floor. Jeffries is averaging 22 minutes a game over the last four contests. That’s nearly a seven-minute increase over his season average.

I’m all for playing the recent draft picks, but I’m not real comfortable with the way Isiah Thomas is conducting business right now.

Leaving a player like Zach Randolph on the bench for two nights seems like a suspicious move, especially because of where Memphis and Minnesota reside in the standings. They just happen to be competing with the Knicks for ping-pong balls, so this looks suspiciously like tanking.

And it doesn’t matter how much Thomas stresses the importance of getting a good look at Randolph Morris, a player with an expiring contract.

Memphis deserves credit for playing the game with great integrity. There is a way to initiate young players without surrendering the farm. And believe me, there are some players here that are not happy with the game plan coming down the stretch. They will have to live with the stigma until something finally goes right here.

Let me know how you all feel about the way things are playing out.

Wilson Chandler showed a little improvement tonight, but I was busy watching Mike Conley, Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick. That cast seems to be a step or two ahead of Chandler, David Lee, Nate Robinson and Renaldo Balkman.

Now we know why MSG sold out tonight’s game, even with the NCAA tournament in full swing. Juan Carlos Navarro brought in amazing numbers of Spaniards, who danced and waved flags every time their favorite son did something of note. It was kind of wild, like nothing I’ve ever seen here.

I have to admit these short conversations with Isiah Thomas after practice are beginning to confuse me to no end. The decision to avoid questions about what’s coming next didn’t last 24 hours, and he sounded almost resolute today when addressing each query about the future.

Or maybe he was being coy.

The silver lining is we have plenty of cryptic answers to keep the conversation going while the Knicks play Memphis and Minnesota, without Zach Randolph, I might add. Thomas plans to leave the double-double threat on the bench for two games in order to give Randolph Morris extended minutes.

It’s not like he’s messing with the integrity of the game. Nobody in the group is playoff bound.

Anyway, here’s kind of how the highlights of today’s conversation played out:

Thomas was asked whether he’d want to know if the organization was in talks with Donnie Walsh or anybody else who might succeed him in the front office.

He smiled.

“I think I’m well informed,” Thomas said.

Curious. So does he believe the organization is treating him fairly? Not a single person in the organization has stepped forward with a message of support, much less a vote of confidence.

“I feel very supported and I feel treated extremely well,” Thomas said.

And then he claimed to know the future plans of the organization, although he offered nothing credible to back up the notion.

“I plan on being here,” Thomas said. “I’m here today. You’ll see me tomorrow, and I’ll be there the next day.”

When asked whether he was OK with the possibility of relinquishing front office duties should the Knicks bring in a front line administrator, the Thomas stated he was happy where he’s at and then drifted off topic, discussing the plan to play the youngsters in upcoming games.

So we’re all kind of scratching our heads.

And then Jamal Crawford stopped for a chat, and just happened to mention he’d spoken with Dolan yesterday when everybody came together for a team photo.

If nothing else, we know Thomas was in the gym with the man who is writing those lopsided checks.

What does it all mean?

Thomas might know something he’s not willing or able to share. Maybe he is coming back. Thomas might also be playing along. Maybe he’s not willing to risk the $18 million still coming from the organization.

It’s good to be Donnie Walsh right now.

Retirement can likely wait a couple of years. We know of at least three teams looking to keep the respected basketball administrator gainfully employed. And the Knicks are first in line, which is the absolute dream scenario of every free agent in this league.

Ka-Ching!

That unrestrained checkbook Jim Dolan totes around is a valuable weapon in this case. I’m not saying Walsh is willing to overlook the shortcomings of this organization for a couple of bucks. The money comes into play more with the deconstruction of this mess.

Unlimited resources are very useful when the situation calls for buying out the problems a failed administration leaves behind. In other words, he might be enticed by the ability to cut a check and dismiss the likes of Stephon Marbury and Jerome James if need be.

Walsh should also be able to make a nice living, since there is no salary cap in the front office. And shouldn’t the man in charge of acquiring talent be compensated at the highest rate possible? It’s one spot where the fans probably don’t mind overpaying, especially when they are getting a proven commodity.

It’s possible something could be done by next week.

Milwaukee increased the urgency when it parted ways with Larry Harris, and we still don’t know whether Atlanta might be calling. Indiana apparently wants to keep Walsh, as well, knowing it’s facing a tough rebuild. Maybe he wants a change, but the Knicks right now are not that different.

They have a roster stocked with underachievers. They have a serious image problem with the fans. They are in salary cap hell, but the Pacers are closer to purgatory.

Which direction would you go?

A couple of notes to pass on, don’t forget to fill out an NCAA bracket here at LoHud.com, you only have until 12:30 p.m. ET. I’m in the pool, and I used my real name so you can visit during the madness and brag about how smart you are and wonder out loud how I manage to keep my job with so little basketball knowledge.

I’m also leaving you with a link to a cool story I did this week on Fantasia Goodwin, a classic overachiever who is playing in the NCAA women’s tournament. Check it out.

Isiah Thomas might be getting backed up to a wall, but he isn’t going to give the Knicks ammunition.

There wasn’t a single attempt to engage the organization today despite reports indicating James Dolan is already making the rounds, looking for a replacement.

Who knows, maybe he won’t get fired.

It doesn’t sound like anything will happen until the end of the season, but what if the Knicks bring in somebody like Donnie Walsh for the next makeover? Does anybody have a problem with Thomas being kept on the payroll?

Think about it for a second. Think like the jilted party in a divorce proceding.

Dolan already wrote an $11.5 million check to Annucha Browne Sanders and owes Thomas another $16 million. Maybe he won’t be coming down the hall with a pink slip. Thomas could be retained and be forced to scout.

It would keep him tied up for the next three years unless he’s willing to negotiate a buyout.

It was my intention to prohibit any discussion of potential replacements while Isiah Thomas is employed by the Knicks, but since James Dolan appears to be poking around for new leadership, consider the ban lifted.

Besides, there’s no other relevant topic worth beating to death.

I can’t find anything new on the Donnie Walsh front, at least nothing my sources are willing to address on the record. There are quite a few insiders around the league who are seconding that nomination, but Dolan is hopefully going to conduct a lengthy search.

Let’s assume that’s why he’s starting now. There are other viable candidates.

We don’t know for certain a change will be made, but if the Knicks are done with Thomas, hiring a capable team president or general manager is the most important move this organization will make. Think about it, a good coach wins four or five extra games a season. A good administrator wins 50 or 60 games a season.

Players make this league go.

As for the conjecture about Thomas hanging around on the sidelines, I doubt it’s going to happen. The organization is aware it’s dealing with an image problem. Cleaning house is the best way to undo some of the damage and paint a new picture, which means Thomas and Stephon Marbury aren’t likely to be around when training camp opens.

They are the faces of this franchise, and the marketing department cannot put their smiling faces on material to promote the sale of tickets. Of course, making them disappear is likely to cost $32 million. I guess we’re about to find out whether Dolan’s checkbook is recession proof.

I’m not sure what to make of Isiah Thomas’ body language.

Maybe it’s nothing, but for the last week or so, he sits calmly on the bench providing direction here and there. It seems a little odd. With so many young players getting minutes, shouldn’t he be more involved?

It’s almost like Thomas is resigned to his fate.

Or maybe the owner informed the embattled coach a change was coming at season’s end. I’m just guessing. There is certainly a chance the organization told him to finish up, keep the money and walk away. I doubt it, but it remains a possibility.

There’s not been a lot of practice time lately, either.

Nobody spends a lot of time on the court drilling at this point in the season, but lately these guys are on and off in an hour. So how is anybody getting better? It’s nice that Wilson Chandler, Renaldo Balkman, Mardy Collins and Randolph Morris are getting to run around, but why not put Jamal Crawford or Malik Rose on the court to direct traffic?

Why not call a play?

It doesn’t make a lot of sense, teaching a lot of bad habits.