<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Isiah Thomas officially entered the Phil Jackson sweepstakes yesterday and has scheduled a meeting with the legendary coach for sometime within the next 10 days, a person close to Jackson told the Daily News. The same source, who on Tuesday in Chicago revealed that Jackson was leaning toward returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, told The News Jackson had accepted the Knicks' invitation but declined to say where and when the much-anticipated sit-down would take place. The Knicks, Lakers, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves and Cavaliers are all in the running to hire Jackson, the one-time Knicks forward who won six titles coaching the Chicago Bulls and three with the Lakers. Jackson has not said publicly whether he wants to coach again next season. He already has met with Lakers officials about returning to the team following a one-year hiatus. Jackson's girlfriend, Jeannie Buss, is a Lakers executive and the daughter of team owner Jerry Buss.</div> New York Daily News
