Add fired Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien to the list of candidates for the Knicks' job, and subtract Maurice Cheeks, the former 76ers star who was hired to replace him. The sudden move yesterday afternoon freed O'Brien after only one season with the Sixers in which he guided them to a 10-game improvement and a playoff berth with a 43-39 record.

O'Brien is sure to attract considerable interest around the NBA after reviving sagging teams in Boston and Philadelphia. A person familiar with the Knicks' coaching search said it's logical to assume team president Isiah Thomas, who previously interviewed Cheeks, will contact O'Brien, who has a 182-159 overall record and a reputation for teams that play solid defense.

Former star John Starks will represent the Knicks on the dais at the NBA studios in Secaucus, N.J., because Thomas wants to maintain a low profile during the coaching search.

With the Seattle SuperSonics now out of the NBA Playoffs, Isiah Thomas and the New York Knicks will try to schedule a formal interview with Nate McMillan.

McMillan has been the Sonics' head coach over the last five seasons and his contract expires this summer.  He is known as "Mr. Sonic" and there is an excellent chance that he returns to the Seattle bench.

McMillan and Thomas are represented by the same agaent, Lonny Cooper.

New York Knicks GM Isiah Thomas was in Los Angeles yesterday, however he failed to secure a second interview with coveted coach and "Zen Master" Phil Jackson.

It is not clear why Thomas was in L.A., what is known is that he will be going back to New York empty handed.

Phil Jackson?s longtime assistant and friend Tex Winter recently stated that the chances of the Zen Master returning to coach the Los Angeles Lakers is "a little better than 50-50."

Winter also believes that if Jackson doesn?t go to L.A. he will most likely end up in New York.

"[Jackson] has his home in L.A. relationship with [Lakers VP] Jeanie Buss, the Lakers would be where he'd like to stay," Winter told The Post from his Oregon home. "But it takes two to tango. He has to feel confident [owner] Jerry Buss, management and [GM] Mitch Kupchak want him back."

Isiah Thomas has now interviewed Maurice Cheeks, the former head coach of the Portland TrailBlazers.

Thomas is beginning to prepare to find his consolation prize if he does end up losing out on Phil Jackson.

"I would say I know we've focused a lot on Phil and we should because who he is and what he's done," Thomas said. "But in my mind, the other people I've talked to and people I will continue to talk to, there's some good coaches out there.

"I think there will be a second meeting [with Jackson]," said Thomas. "If it gets to a point about hiring Phil, he'll definitely sit down with [Garden president] Steve [Mills] and [Knicks owner] Jim [Dolan]. It's safe to say I think New York holds a special place for him."

Five and a half years after being fired from his post as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, P.J. Carlesimo is once again a candidate across the NBA.

"He will definitely be a head coach in the NBA again soon," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "And I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was this coming year."

Knicks president Isiah Thomas has interviewed Carlesimo once and will probably talk to him again about becoming the team's head coach, and at least two other clubs have made inquiries, leading people who know Carlesimo to believe the ice is starting to thaw.

"Something is going to happen this year," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, a former assistant under Carlesimo in Portland from 1994-1997. "I've been hearing his name a lot, and a couple of different organizations have called me to ask about him. He deserves a chance, not because he's great guy, but because he's a great coach."

In a move that once seemed improbable, sources close to Phil Jackson say that he is close to making his decision regarding his coaching status for next season and with that a possible return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Knicks have not been told by Jackson's agent that they are out of the running, but they have become the underdogs.

Isiah Thomas still would like to schedule another interview.

After sending out an invitation to meet almost a week ago, Phil Jackson has yet to play a date to meet with New York Knicks GM Isiah Thomas and nothing is likely to be scheduled before this Friday.

With that in mind, Thomas is taking secondary applications including Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo.

League sources are claiming that the Cleveland Cavaliers are out of the running for Phil Jackson, leaving New York and Los Angeles as his two possible destinations.

Earl Monroe doesn't expect him to come to the Knicks either.

"I've talked to a couple of people pretty close to Phil," Monroe said yesterday at the Meadowlands during the Nets-Heat playoff game. "It's a good shot to try to get him. In terms of his own legacy, I know he should go to someplace where there's a guy they can build around and become a winning team. I don't see with the Knicks they have that type of team in place at this point."