As Donnie Walsh moves closer to his second marriage with James Dolan, the Knicks president does so with assurance from the club's owner that he has given up on the idea of hiring back Isiah Thomas in any capacity.

Walsh, who is close to finalizing a new deal with the Knicks, is confident he no longer needs to be threatened by the dark cloud of Thomas, according to two people familiar with the situation. Walsh is expected to be granted permission to hire his successor as a central part of a new agreement that should be formally announced shortly. A two-year contract extension has been discussed.

The sources told The Post Dolan has remained friendly with Thomas but no longer trusts him to the point of giving him another basketball job.