Here's a look at the latest out of the Atlantic Division, starting with the return of a familiar name to the back pages of the New York tabloids..
- LaSalle Thompson is a candidate to join the Knicks as an assistant coach, writes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Thompson was Mike Woodson's teammate with the (Kansas City) Kings and also worked with Tyson Chandler as a Bobcats assistant.
- Knicks owner James Dolan held a business meeting with Isiah Thomas Friday morning at a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, a person familiar with the situation told Marc Berman of the New York Post. The pow-wow comes two days after the resignation of MSG sports president Scott O’Neil, who a source says helped convince Dolan that rehiring Thomas wasn’t a smart move for the Knicks brand. Thomas has pushed for a formal to the organization since he was fired as the Florida International basketball coach last spring.
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) says that Thomas never truly left the Knicks organization and has been in Dolan's ear even after his formal dismissal from the team. Isola also tweets that Thomas had a hand in the team's hiring of Mike Woodson.
- The Raptors have had internal discussions about free agent Mickael Pietrus but are unlikely to sign him as they don't have their bi-annual exception available, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Pietrus' agent insists that his client won't consider a minimum deal but Smith expects the Raptors to inquire on it anyway.