Despite labeling his chances of landing Bryant at "less than zero," Thomas said yesterday that while in California, he plans to meet with the Lakers superstar as soon as the weekend. The Knicks' summer-league team plays in Long Beach, Calif., and Kobe has a home in nearby Newport Beach.

"You always got to give the effort," Thomas said. "You got to go fishing. If guys are out there floating around, my job, what I get paid for, my job responsibility is to go see that guy.

"I'm not supposed to sit in the office and say ? 'guess what, Kobe's out there.' You go say hello to him. And you never know."