COMMENTARY: COULD HAVE BEENS REST WITH THOMAS.

Byline: Sam Smith Chicago Tribune 

It all could have been very different. Perhaps today's Chicago Bulls-New York Knicks game would have been one in which the Bulls were the team finally looking to get past the defending champions.

That is, if in 1993-94 the Knicks had completed a deal for Isiah Thomas, the former Pistons star who will be in New York as the analyst for NBC's telecast.

``I will say we'd have won it in 1994,'' Thomas said. ``In that seventh game, when (John) Starks was shooting the ball like that (2 for 16), I would have said, `You're not shooting anymore; get the ball to (Patrick) Ewing.' And if he couldn't throw it down there, I would have.

``I think (coach Pat) Riley probably would have stayed because we'd have won (the championship) and everyone would have been in love and happy. I don't know if we'd have been able to beat Chicago when Michael (Jordan) came back. But the war would have continued.''

It's just a little skirmish now as the Bulls pull into New York for . . . what is it, Jordan's 10th final game in New York? With Ewing out for the season, the Knicks are just trying to make the playoffs and perhaps get home-court advantage for the first round. They don't talk about championships anymore - this year, anyway. But they were that season when the Knicks almost traded for Thomas.

That season would be Thomas' last in the NBA, though he was just 32. The Pistons, bottoming out with a 20-62 season, asked Thomas if he wanted to finish his career with a contender.

``The Pistons would have got Tony Campbell and a No. 1 pick, the same thing Dallas got (for Derek Harper),'' Thomas said. ``That's when the team was talking to me about being a part-owner. So I decided to stay in Detroit and run the team.''

With that, Thomas offered a laugh.

The ownership deal fell apart and Thomas took a similar position in Toronto, but gave that up earlier this season in an ownership change and joined NBC.

Now he's 36, which isn't old by NBA standards anymore. Jordan is 35 and he's still the best in the game. Karl Malone is 34 and talking about where he'll play when his contract expires in 1999. Hakeem Olajuwon is 35 and talking about finishing his career in Vancouver when he's 40.

So what if that trade had been made?

``I'd probably still be playing,'' Thomas said. ``There are probably a couple of teams I can start for now.''

He didn't mention the Knicks, whose point guards are Charlie Ward, Chris Childs and Brooks Thompson. As for the league's point guards, ``I'd probably be in the top 15,'' Thomas said.

So would he come back?

``In sports, I've learned you never know what's coming around the corner,'' Thomas said. ``It's such an unusual business you never say never.''

On a Spree: OK, kids, here's what you do: Finish your homework, wash your hands, brush your teeth and whack your coach. And you too can be in demand like Latrell Sprewell. Yes, they're lining up for the Golden State Warriors' miscreant, who got his sentence reduced by an arbitrator last week and can return to the Warriors - or certainly be traded - effective July 1.

The Spurs and Wizards expressed interest in Sprewell, even in the immediate aftermath of his attack on coach P.J. Carlesimo. The Rockets are indicating they'll let free-agent guard Clyde Drexler go after this season and pursue Sprewell. Mavericks coach and General Manager Don Nelson, who drafted Sprewell No. 24 in 1992, is interested.

``I think we'll discuss it at the proper time. We'd be crazy not to,'' Nelson said. ``Things happen in life sometimes that we're not proud of. I think it's behind him.''

Even Riley, who brings his Miami Heat into Chicago on Tuesday for the last statement/message game between the two teams in the regular season, says he'd be very interested.

``Sure, I would,'' Riley said. ``He's a very talented player. I'm not that close-minded.''

But didn't Riley's star guard, Tim Hardaway, say he'd never play with Sprewell, with whom he feuded at Golden State?

``Everything is cool,'' Hardaway said recently. ``At one point I said I couldn't play with him again. But I talked to coach and told him that's a different story as I think about it. It's about winning and not about liking this guy, liking that guy.''

Gugliotta out: Minnesota's Tom Gugliotta underwent ankle surgery last week and will miss the rest of the season. Though the Timberwolves say they want to re-sign the free agent, insiders say Gugliotta is upset that GM Kevin McHale questioned the injury and tried to talk him out of surgery. Gugliotta is supposedly interested in Detroit, Houston, Charlotte and the Bulls.

TOP 10 AND NO. 29

1. Chicago: Have to prove they can win on the road; 16-13 this season away from Oprah.

2. Seattle: Baker's buzzer-beater puts a lid on Heat's win streak.

3. Utah: Hey, Karl! Your MVP trophy will soon have a twin.

4. Lakers: Look out; the Diesel is making free throws (24 of 34, 71 percent in past three games).

5. Miami: Slight setback against Sonics; largest lead among division leaders.

6. San Antonio: Duncan the Dominator; averaged 25.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocks a game in February.

7. Indiana: Smits spent more time watching Shaq than guarding him; six fouls in 15 minutes.

8. Atlanta: Laettner's leadership off the bench is big for Hawks.

9. Charlotte: Season-best six-game winning streak.

10. Phoenix: Are the Suns setting?

29. Denver: Looking good . . . in layup drills.

TECHNICAL FOUL

John Feerick, Arbitrator

He's the arbitrator who gave Latrell Sprewell his contract back, saved him $17.3 million in salary and shortened his suspension by five months. ``I think the fundamental point is whether you can strike your boss and still hold your job. The answer is that you cannot strike your boss and still hold your job - unless you play in the NBA and are subject to arbitrator Feerick's decision,'' NBA Commissioner David Stern said. Feerick ``missed the opportunity to send a message of what sports leagues stand for.''

Feerick wrote, ``I find that a penalty of 68 games (and $6.4 million in lost salary) is commensurate with the severity of the misconduct, addresses the wrong done to the head coach, and conveys a message that violence in the NBA will be dealt with severely but always with due regard to principles of fairness.'' Sprewell will be reinstated July 1.

PLAYER WATCH

Kevin Garnett, Minnesota

The 21-year-old forward has taken his game to another level since the season-ending injury to teammate Tom Gugliotta. Garnett, who's been under scrutiny for a six-year, $126 million contract he inked prior to this season, has averaged 22.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.7 assists over the last three games. The 7-footer drilled a 20-foot jumper with 1.3 seconds remaining in double overtime to give the Timberwolves a 115-113 win over the Detroit Pistons. In the win, he converted 12 of 22 shots from the floor. Tuesday, he converted 9 of 14 shots from the field and finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Wednesday he narrowly missed a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. The two-time All-Star has played in all 58 games this season, averaging 18.0 points per game on 49 percent shooting - 76 percent from the foul line - and has pulled down 9.4 rebounds per game.

CLIPPERS

Today at Denver, 6:00 p.m.

Monday at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday vs. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

Friday vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

LAKERS

Today vs. Detroit, noon

Wednesday vs. Portland, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday at Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

--- Anthony Buccino

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: TOP 10 AND NO. 29 (see text)