This topic contains 0 replies, has 1 voice, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar Hitster 12 years, 11 months ago.

  • Author
    Posts
  • #27703
    AvatarAvatar
    Hitster
    Participant

    I see on Hoopshype that it has been said it is up to Donnie Walsh whether he remains as Knicks’ President after 30th April although the option is there for James Dolan to exercise. Walsh turned 70 years old this year and has had numerous health issues so whatever happens either this year or next are likely to be his last in a major front office role.

    There is compelling logic for Walsh to do his final year if he wants to as he has overseen the salary cap transformation and the signing of STAT and the trade for Melo to try and put the Knicks back in contention. Walsh himself has admitted they are not there yet and even after making the play offs for the first time in 2003-04 they are only 38-38 so are still a fair way short of where they need to be. There is the question of Billups’s team option and adding roster depth around STAT and Melo and also a draft war room to run. So Walsh who has been in-situ for 3 years is surely the best man to do this and allow a smooth handover to the next Team President.

    Former Exec of the Year Mark Warkentien has been a Consultant with the Knicks for a couple of months and having worked with Melo and Billups in Denver would be a logical person to succeed Walsh but he will not have worked as closely with Coach D’Antoni as Walsh has so for Walsh to oversee the draft makes more sense.

    Everyone’s favourite former GM Kevin Pritchard was also mentioned as a possible candidate, Pritch made bold moves at Portland and shares an agent with Coach D’Antoni also apparently so there is a natural tie there. The thing that I always liked about Pritch was he made deals happen and was proactive in putting things on the table so backed by the Knicks’ resources then he could make some bold roster moves.

    The Knicks also have a long serving VP of Basketball Operations in Glen Grunwald who could logically be promoted to Team President with a new GM coming in below him to effectively run all the trade and team related business whilst Glen looked after more the contracts side.

    0

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login