Isiah Thomas revealed yesterday he began constructing trade offers to the Lakers on Wednesday afternoon when he heard Kobe Bryant's emphatic trade demand.

The Knicks coach/president has backed off for now after Bryant changed his minds several times on Wednesday whether or not he wants to be traded.

"For the hour he was available [Wednesday], we all had a scenario and it didn't take us long to figure out how we would get him," Thomas said yesterday at the NBA pre-draft camp at the Milk House Arena at Walt Disney World. "I'm sure every GM in the league had a scenario on how to get him."

If the Lakers were not interested in Stephon Marbury, Thomas likely would have to string together a package of David Lee, Jamal Crawford, Channing Frye and Malik Rose. Thomas said Eddy Curry would not be part of any package for Bryant, his strongest indication of the Knicks center's untouchable status.

"We want to build around him . . . what he's doing and what he's going to be," Thomas said of Curry. "There aren't many big men in the league like him.

"You try to add that player to somebody; you try to put them together," Thomas added. "For the one hour [Bryant] was leaving, you try to put him together with someone he likes."

Thomas has not approached Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and does not intend to do so unless there are more developments in the saga.