Isiah Thomas will likely return to the Knicks in April following FIU's 10-11 season, according to a report from the New York Daily News.

"Isiah is one of Jim Dolan's best friends," says a person close to Thomas. "That's good enough for him."

That relationship makes Thomas feel he has something a job title cannot offer.

Thomas will possibly return with the title of consultant, the same title he tried to return as this summer before NBA rules barred the dual role.

James Dolan has until March 31 to exercise a one-year option on Walsh's contract, and there is no guarantee that the longtime exec will return or will even want to.

Dolan feels it is unnecessary to hire another executive when Walsh already has two former NBA GMs, Glen Grunwald and John Gabriel, working under him.