Kurt Thomas's commitment to helping the Knicks this past month has been exemplary, given that he has been playing with virtually one hand tied behind his back. And now it appears that the team is ready to pay him back.

According to his attorney, Thomas and the Knicks are closing in on a contract extension, one that will probably pay the power forward an additional $30 million or so over four years beyond the end of his current deal, which expires after the 2004-05 season.
   
"I have great confidence it's going to get done, yes," attorney Jerry Hicks said yesterday from his Dallas office. "I spoke with Isiah (Thomas) shortly before the trade deadline, and we had a good conversation. He reaffirmed his interest in wanting to extend Kurt, and expressed how pleased he has been with all of Kurt's efforts. And as he said all along, he likes Kurt. I take discussions like that to mean that we should be able to get something done."