One day after referring to Herb Williams in the past tense, Isiah Thomas and his interim coach sat together on a two-man dais for the Channing Frye press conference in Westchester.

Tuesday night, the Knicks netted four athletic players between ages 21-25 – three first-rounders and Quentin Richardson. But they still don’t have anyone to coach them.

Perhaps Thomas is most ecstatic because his draft-night coup enhanced the club’s chances of drawing interest from Nate McMillan, who becomes a free agent Saturday, and Larry Brown, who could become available soon after leaving the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota this weekend.

It’s known McMillan, lowballed by the Sonics, is a big fan of Washington’s pint-sized point guard Nate Robinson, whom Thomas selected with the 21st pick he received Tuesday night from Phoenix as a sweetener to finalize the Richardson-for-Kurt Thomas trade. Thomas will contact McMillan.

In a clumsy moment late Tuesday night, Thomas had a slip of the tongue before the cameras.

“We like Herb Williams as coach,” Thomas said. “He did a fine job when he was here.”

Thomas stopped, adding, “I’m sorry. He did a fine job coaching the team. But we want to do the best and right thing for the Knicks.”

Thomas said later, in a private meeting with the beat writers well past midnight, Williams was still in the mix and had input in the draft. Williams’ head-coaching contract, a source confirmed, runs through Aug. 1.

In a remark some viewed as cold, Thomas added, “I’m in a difficult position in terms of loyalty. What loyalty means to me: I am loyal to winning. I am loyal to the Knicks. I’m not loyal to any individual.”

Williams was unfazed yesterday.

“I don’t know if he can talk about me in the past tense,” Williams said. “I’m still here. I’m still the head coach of the team. I’m not worried.”

Brown and McMillan are Thomas’ top choices, but even Bill Laimbeer, who has no NBA coaching experience, tells friends he’ll get the job if Brown doesn’t.

Late Tuesday, Thomas said, “They should all feel very serious about the job because I was serious about the interview.”

A league source who has spoken to Thomas believes some candidates are regarded as down-the-road possibilities. At the Chicago pre-draft camp, Thomas said, “If nothing else, we’ve created a database.”

Thomas says he won’t contact the Pistons to ask permission to speak with Brown unless it appears they are parting ways. Brown is also being looked at by Thomas as a candidate for next summer.

“I played for the Detroit Pistons,” Thomas said. “I’m very respectful of the people there and sensitive to the dealings they find themselves under. If they have to work out [a divorce], they will. If not, from everything Larry has said and Joe [Dumars] has said, Larry intends to be head coach of the Pistons next year, and I believe that.”

Assistant Mark Aguirre will be summer-league coach next week in Las Vegas. Williams said he’d get more out of “observing” from the stands.

“Most head coaches don’t coach summer league,” Williams said.

“My whole thing is to coach the Knicks,” Williams said. “If I don’t get it, I’ll be a little disappointed. This is what I’ve dreamed about doing. This is what I know I do well. That’s what I’m planning on now.”

But is Isiah? Asked if he’s considered taking over, Isiah paused and said no.