Coach K knows leverage. This is the same coach who did commercials for American Express while coaching Duke. He still hosts a show  Basketball and Beyond  on XM radio. He was head coach of the United States 2008 Olympic team and now stands in the middle of the huddle of the United States team that will compete in the world championships this month in Turkey. As the most powerful figure in USA Basketball, Krzyzewski has unchecked access to the top high school talent.

Each one of these coaching assignments puts Krzyzewski and his assistants in position to impress recruits with their access to N.B.A. stars  and by extension, the N.B.A. And it is no different than what he claimed Thomas should not be allowed to do  hold dual roles as a college coach and a Knicks consultant.

The potential relationship between Thomas and the Knicks had little chance of surviving. The anger and hostility that had been unleashed over the past few days resembled a hurricane. The outcry was so great that even Dolan blinked.

Privately, Dolan and Thomas will continue to be friends. More than that, they could be working together before long. In a statement, Dolan said he was disappointed but added: “He’s a good friend of mine, and the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team.”

Thomas will be asked by the Knicks his opinion of college players; hundreds of college coaches are asked all the time. From high school to college to the N.B.A., these consultations happen so often that the lines that separate what’s right from conflict of interest have blurred.