It sounds as if Knicks president Isiah Thomas and forward Kurt Thomas are close to working out a 4-year contract extension worth $30.45 million.

"I've had some encouraging discussions with Isiah," Jerry Hicks, Kurt Thomas' Dallas-based agent, said Thursday. "He's continuing to say he's interested in extending Kurt, and we have reason to think he will."

Thomas can opt out of the final year of his contract this summer.

If an extension is signed, it would kick in after next season.