Knicks president Isiah Thomas knows this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, even if it's not something that's likely to come to fruition.  How many chances does a team executive get to pursue the premier wing player in the game of basketball?

Isiah bolted from the Knicks' summer-league training camp yesterday to fly to Los Angeles to meet with Kobe Bryant.  Mission impossible:  Convince Kobe that the remaining chapter of his career should be conquering Gotham and bringing a title to the New York metropolitan area.

Thomas said he will also meet with Bulls guard Jamal Crawford while he's out west.  Crawford makes his home in Seattle.

Talks with the Bulls have stalled.  Only vague proposals have been exchanged and the Knicks have not told the Bulls what they're prepared to pay Crawford.

"I'm sure we're not the only team they're talking to," Thomas said. "They've made it so public. That means they probably have some other team they're holding over the barrel."

The Knicks do have contracts the Bulls covet, including Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington and Frank Williams.