MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) New York Knicks president Isiah Thomas said Friday night he will not take a wait-and-see approach in his new duties.

In an informal press conference prior to the Knicks game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Thomas covered an array of topics from veterans Clarence Weatherspoon and Antonio McDyess to rookies Michael Sweetney and Maciej Lampe.

``This isn't charity,'' Thomas said. ``This is a business, and it's a very tough business we're in and a very public business we're in. We all get paid a lot of money to do what we need to do. If you can't do it, we've got to find somebody else.

``Right now, we need people who can do it.''

Thomas, who took over Monday for the fired Scott Layden, gave no timetable for personnel evaluations but indicated there was little time for patience. He shed little light on Weatherspoon, who was placed on the injured list Wednesday, other than to say ``at this point we are in some discussions with his agent. We will see where those discussions lead.'' It was a point he reiterated when asked if that meant a buyout of the forward's contract.

One of Thomas' first moves was to activate Sweetney, the rookie out of Georgetown who was the ninth pick in the draft. In nine games, he's averaging 1.3 points and didn't play in eight others while active.

``Quite frankly, I don't think we're that good that we can have the (ninth) pick in the draft on (the injured list),'' Thomas said. ``We can get an opportunity to see him and also have some flexibility with our roster so we can keep trying to improve this team. ...We don't like where we are.''

Thomas had a less-than-stellar evaluation of Lampe, who has yet to see action this season. The 6-foot-11 forward is on the injured list with shin splints.

``This is a guy who needs to work his tail off to get to where I think he needs to be,'' Thomas said. ``I let him know that if he thinks he's going to get where he thinks he needs to be working the way he's working, that's not going to happen. I need to see a better work ethic from him. ...I think he's a guy that should live in a gym for a long time.''