avatar

Source: Walsh and Dolan in Talks

by Tommy Dee on April 4th, 2011 at 12:35 pm

On the heels of solidifying a playoff spot, the Knicks may be also getting closer to solidifying their front office situation, a source with knowledge of the situation informs TKB.

The source told me that Donnie Walsh and owner James Dolan have in fact recently talked about the looming option that needs to be picked up before April 30th a subject that many fans have wondered about often.

“They’ve definitely begun to speak about it (the option),” the source said.

Whether Walsh is 100% sure he wants to return is another question. With the whirlwind pressure to now get this group to the top of the Eastern Conference and the seemingly never-ending presence of Isiah Thomas looming over head, it would be hard to blame Walsh for heading back home to Indiana. But don’t assume if he leaves NY he’s going back to to his old job with the Pacers just yet.

“He has NOT spoken to Indiana about working again for the Pacers,” the source assured me. “He is too close and has way to much respect for Larry (Bird), who he thinks is doing a great job there.”

It would certainly behoove the Knicks to solidify their stability as a franchise considering the last few years have been a revolving door at least from a roster perspective. While Walsh’s plan was the reasoning behind the fluctuating roster, one would think the Knicks must have stability if they want any immediate success moving forward.

One can argue that because of the Anthony trade, which Walsh took ownership of despite being interrupted in negotiations by the owner, the Knicks will need Walsh’s expertise to get great production value per dollar spent. Say what you want about Landry Fields’ current slump or Shawne Williams’ inconsistency, both are great values moving forward even with raises. Walsh has the acumen to build the roster into an Eastern Conference power moving forward.

That said, it would make sense for Walsh to take a bit of a step back from the grind and be a mentor to whomever they want to groom as the next team president. At this stage, I’m sure Walsh isn’t concerned with the money. But I could be wrong.

When pressed the source seemed to infer Walsh is “leaning” on leaving and is comfortable that Knicks are in a far better place than where he found them, but it’s “far too early to say for sure” that he’s made a decision.

 
  • Anonymous

    Most definitely deserved!

  • Anonymous

    Most definitely deserved!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JW6I2HYCEQQDQRQU4HVYZZZZBY el Presidente

    Thank God!!! In Donnie I trust!!!! Thanks Tommy for the info….

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JW6I2HYCEQQDQRQU4HVYZZZZBY el Presidente

    Thank God!!! In Donnie I trust!!!! Thanks Tommy for the info….

  • Anonymous

    This is very good news.

  • Anonymous

    This is very good news.

  • Anonymous

    I hope he stays as Knicks’ president and name someone as a GM. I like the guy who used to be Portland’s.

    And please, can we not mention IT anymore?

  • Anonymous

    I hope he stays as Knicks’ president and name someone as a GM. I like the guy who used to be Portland’s.

    And please, can we not mention IT anymore?

  • http://www.onlygators.com SilverGator

    Wasn’t the original story that Donnie really wanted to stay and see it through but Dolan may screw him over? Now it’s that Donnie is “leaning” on leaving even though Dolan now realizes he has to keep him? Makes no sense. Really hope Walsh stays.

  • Anonymous

    Donnie for Prez! Warkenstien for GM!

  • http://twitter.com/MrDre562 dre-Duval

    Walsh definitely needs to stay but if they can bring in a GM to lighten his work load that would be great.

  • Anonymous

    I can’t imagine that Dolan doesn’t want to extend Walsh. Walsh made him a ton of money with the STAT signing and the Melo trade, and finally put an end to the playoff drought. I really hope that Walsh decides to come back, and finish what he started. We are very close to being an elite team in the East.

  • http://twitter.com/MrDre562 dre-Duval

    I still think they have to do something about there defensive woes, but let’s all enjoy this moment. “The Knicks are Back”

  • Anonymous

    “When pressed the source seemed to infer Walsh is ‘leaning’ on leaving”

    I don’t know how that is good news.

  • Anonymous

    Most of us assume that Donnie Walsh would’ve negotiated a more favorable deal w/Denver … if Dolan would have just stayed in his seat behind the baseline, where he belongs. It’s laughable that Dolan would enter the locker room to glad hand Knicks players, even after finally squeaking back into the Playoffs again. Doesn’t he realize that the players are probably laughing at him, his social awkwardness, and his total lack of basketball acument?
    Despite Donnie’s personnel mistakes (drafting Jordan Hill & Andy Rautins, not re-signing David Lee, passing up Brandon Jennings, bringing back Jared Jeffries?), the Knicks are in much better fiscal (cap) and basketball shape (Amar’e & Carmelo) now, than during the previous two regimes (Scott Layden, Isiah Thomas). Can we please get some kind of a big man who can rebound and protect the basket???
    No one (including the beat writers) seems to understand what the current glut of expensive Knicks basketball executives reporting to Walsh are responsible for (Allen Houston, Mark Warkentien, Pat Gabriel)? Is one of these guys actually being groomed for the GM position, or not? Maybe it’s Walsh’s brother, who sits shotgun style next to Donnie at every home game?
    It sure would be comforting to Knicks fans if we can get another (guaranteed) two years of attention from Donnie Walsh as President of Bball Operations; while removing the ugly specter of the possible return of Isiah Thomas … permanently.

  • Anonymous

    Walsh as president and Mullin as the GM…but my guess would be Warkenstein too…

  • Anonymous

    I like your post but have to strongly disagree that not resigning David Lee was a mistake. As much as I love Lee, he is not worth the 80 million he got.

  • Anonymous

    idk how you can make this comment

    “Despite Donnie’s personnel mistakes (drafting Jordan Hill & Andy Rautins, not re-signing David Lee, passing up Brandon Jennings, bringing back Jared Jeffries?)”

    with any amount of seriousness.

    I will give you that Hill seems like he was picked too high. But he is still a 2nd year big man that everyone and their mom knew was a project. Not an immediate player. Passing up on Jennings? Dude can score sometimes but has really taken a nose dive this year and while he will prob be a player is not someone that you kick a GM for not drafting. If anything be mad he didnt pick Lawson.

    Rautins? Really? He was a mistake? He was a 2nd round pick that has hung around as a solid teammate and a practice player.

    Not resigning David Lee? Really? Dude was ok when he was cheap, but now is making a TON of money and is not really playing that well for GS. You would rather have him then STAT?

    And you are still hung up on JJ? Get over it. Dude is a vet who knows Mike D and came in cause the team just traded like 65% of the rotation and he needed someone that could come in and not need to be coached that much. As the rest of teh guys have learned the system and what to do, his role has diminished.

  • Anonymous

    FisolaNYDN D’Antoni’s future may be linked to Walsh’s future & Walsh is not sure he wants to return. If he stays it’s for the payday, not peace of mind
    23 minutes ago

  • Anonymous

    I really hope walsh decides to stay even as a mentor to another G.M., he has already helped us a lot. he knows exactly what we need, a big man for rebounds and defense. and he deserves 1 more payday. as far as the coach i am not sure what will happen but he most likely will be here next season too.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_P4LIWY7PKZPEAMBLUH2DF2IUIU True

    “One can argue that because of the Anthony trade, which Walsh took ownership of despite being interrupted in negotiations by the owner, the Knicks will need Walsh’s expertise to get great production value per dollar spent. Say what you want about Landry Fields’ current slump or Shawne Williams’ inconsistency, both are great values moving forward even with raises. Walsh has the acumen to build the roster into an Eastern Conference power moving forward.”

    Never heard such a croc in my life. There’s a hundred guys that can step in and do as good or better a job than Walsh.

  • Anonymous

    I hate to say it, but if Walsh is tying his future to _’antoni then he has to go too.

  • Guest

    Donnie can’t last forever he has alot of physical and age related reasons for a reduced work load,he should groom another guy and work part time in transition team.

  • Anonymous

    Knicks president Donnie Walsh recently went to Garden boss Jim Dolan about getting extensions for a couple of people in his basketball department, but Dolan declined, according to a league source familiar with the discussion. Who were the underlings? Doesn’t matter because Dolan told Walsh he wasn’t going to give out any extensions until he resolves Walsh’s situation. As far as that goes, Dolan didn’t provide Walsh any insight into what he’s thinking. Must be that Dolan is still waiting to hear back from Isiah Thomas on what to do New York Daily News

  • Sean

    you know what you should do? root for the knicks to get sweep that way you and biggie can get your way…as for me..knicks all the way….as much as you guys all jock van gundy..youd be screaming for his head in 1999

  • Sean

    you know what you should do? root for the knicks to get sweep that way you and biggie can get your way…as for me..knicks all the way….as much as you guys all jock van gundy..youd be screaming for his head in 1999

  • Anonymous

    It’s always Knicks all the way, regardless.

    I actually don’t want Van Gundy, but he is a better coach than _’antoni.

  • Anonymous

    It’s always Knicks all the way, regardless.

    I actually don’t want Van Gundy, but he is a better coach than _’antoni.

  • Anonymous

    I never would have advocated keeping Lee over Amar’e … but we sure
    could have used his consistent 11 rebounds per game this season. And I
    love Amar’e, but even with Carmelo, the Knicks are one bad knee away
    from being a Lottery Team right now.

  • Anonymous

    I do not think Tommy is arguing there aren’t other “as talented” or “even more talented GMs” that could be had if Walsh leaves. I think we can stipulate that theres more than one GM in the universe.

    That said, it begs the next question.

    Do you trust Jim Dolan (with Isaiah Thomas as his consult) to hire that talent?

    I don’t.

  • Anonymous

    I do not think Tommy is arguing there aren’t other “as talented” or “even more talented GMs” that could be had if Walsh leaves. I think we can stipulate that theres more than one GM in the universe.

    That said, it begs the next question.

    Do you trust Jim Dolan (with Isaiah Thomas as his consult) to hire that talent?

    I don’t.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_K2GJP6JV6II7ERBYC6G7PVQJPA Witold Mucha

    F _Avi_ Lee.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_K2GJP6JV6II7ERBYC6G7PVQJPA Witold Mucha

    F _Avi_ Lee.

  • Anonymous

    Old man in his 70s neither needs the money nor will be around much longer to enjoy spending it.

    You can bank on this…he does it because he loves it.

    I mean seriously, have you not heard the man talk? He lives and breathes basketball.

  • Anonymous

    Old man in his 70s neither needs the money nor will be around much longer to enjoy spending it.

    You can bank on this…he does it because he loves it.

    I mean seriously, have you not heard the man talk? He lives and breathes basketball.

  • Anonymous

    If David Lee was our starting PF, we wouldn’t have even been over .500 with the old team, and Carmelo wouldn’t have become a Knick

  • Anonymous

    Hell no he isn’t. I like D Lee too but 80 million and the guy never got us NEAR the playoffs.

    I mean, I didn’t expect him too but thats superstar $$$ and we never won more than 30+ games a season with him. No thank you. Amare had us heading into the playoffs with a modest group around him, its the difference between tier 1 and tier 2.

  • Anonymous

    I swear, In every photo Walsh looks like a cross between an exophthalmic (bug eyed) pug http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/2105361618_33ef89dbcd.jpg?v=0 and Admiral Ackbar http://www.ackbar.org/images/ackbar.jpg

  • Anonymous

    I swear, In every photo Walsh looks like a cross between an exophthalmic (bug eyed) pug http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/2105361618_33ef89dbcd.jpg?v=0 and Admiral Ackbar http://www.ackbar.org/images/ackbar.jpg

  • Anonymous

    In all seriousness though, I think Walsh deserves an extension. I haven’t agreed with all his decisions, but he did get us dual max players (and they’re better than Joe Johnson and Bosh).

    But I read Daryl Morey has been fighting with the Rockets owner. I would love for him to be the next Knicks GM.

  • Anonymous

    In all seriousness though, I think Walsh deserves an extension. I haven’t agreed with all his decisions, but he did get us dual max players (and they’re better than Joe Johnson and Bosh).

    But I read Daryl Morey has been fighting with the Rockets owner. I would love for him to be the next Knicks GM.

  • Anonymous

    Anyone else see on ESPN2 or hear on the scott van pelt show Jay Williams totally praise JVG and say how he has a terrific basketball mind?

  • Anonymous

    Anyone else see on ESPN2 or hear on the scott van pelt show Jay Williams totally praise JVG and say how he has a terrific basketball mind?

  • Anonymous

    Because, at least discussions are happening now. Before, there was nothing from either side.

  • Anonymous

    Because, at least discussions are happening now. Before, there was nothing from either side.

  • Anonymous

    Carmelo Anthony just won Eastern Conference Player of the Week!

  • Anonymous

    Donnie needs to stay with the knicks, the Knicks need him and he deserves to stay to experience the team he put together. Walsh is the man and still has some tricks up his sleeve.

  • Anonymous

    Donnie needs to stay with the knicks, the Knicks need him and he deserves to stay to experience the team he put together. Walsh is the man and still has some tricks up his sleeve.

  • Anonymous

    Walsh did his job. He deserves to get what he wants here. If he wants to stay, it would be a tragedy for Dolan to force him out. If he wants to leave, then good for him he did what he set out to do.

    Either way, he deserves to go out on his own terms now no matter what they may be.

    I’ll now recite everybodys favorite phrase on TKB lol:

    In Donnie We Trust

  • Anonymous

    Walsh did his job. He deserves to get what he wants here. If he wants to stay, it would be a tragedy for Dolan to force him out. If he wants to leave, then good for him he did what he set out to do.

    Either way, he deserves to go out on his own terms now no matter what they may be.

    I’ll now recite everybodys favorite phrase on TKB lol:

    In Donnie We Trust

  • Anonymous

    alanhahn FWIW: Melo/Amar’e 4th time 2 Knicks are P of W in same season. Harrington/Lee (08-09), Marbury/Mutombo (03-04), Ewing/Jackson (91-92). #fb
    3 minutes ago

  • Anonymous

    alanhahn FWIW: Melo/Amar’e 4th time 2 Knicks are P of W in same season. Harrington/Lee (08-09), Marbury/Mutombo (03-04), Ewing/Jackson (91-92). #fb
    3 minutes ago

  • Anonymous

    alanhahn I’m told playoff tickets won’t go on sale just yet. Closer to end of season. @nyk20338 @swizz_e
    8 minutes ago

    Aka Dolan will adjust depending on matchup. If it’s the Heat we are screwed.

  • Anonymous

    alanhahn I’m told playoff tickets won’t go on sale just yet. Closer to end of season. @nyk20338 @swizz_e
    8 minutes ago

    Aka Dolan will adjust depending on matchup. If it’s the Heat we are screwed.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_K2GJP6JV6II7ERBYC6G7PVQJPA Witold Mucha

    Well-deserved.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_K2GJP6JV6II7ERBYC6G7PVQJPA Witold Mucha

    P of W?

  • Anonymous

    Player of Week

  • Anonymous

    Normally I’d be impressed by that kind of thing but LOL.

    Lee and Harrington- are you freaking serious?
    Starbury and Mutumbo?

    I’d rather them not have that distinction than to be in a similar category to Lee and Harrington lol.

  • Anonymous

    why would you hate to say it? I could have done what Walsh did,without quitting my bartenders gig

  • Anonymous

    how much you wanna bet he comes back in a heavily reduced role.. with someone (Warkenstein hopefully) named GM and Donnie spending most of his time in Indiana.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UJDXPJNM7K5FIONZQ6MJE7XDY4 chris b

    David Lee got 11 boards because he defended the P@R worse than Stats, and got the rebounds off the miised js that resulting from him not hedging. He never stepped in, his post defense was terrible, and his perimeter defense was worse.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3RGKXYRB3RFODDMZLHZFE7JGFE NAC

    Why are we so high o Warkenstein? Trading Iverson away from anywhere is a no brainer.

  • http://twitter.com/anthonytdee207 anthony G. Decesare

    If Walsh leaves, u can point to 3 things, 1. the owner got in walsh’s way in the melo deal and made walsh give up more then he wanted to, I am sure walsh is pissed off about that. 2. Everyone knows Walsh wanted to hire Chris Mullin as his GM and the owner said no, 3. The owner keeps on forcing Isiah Thomas down Walsh’s throat whether it’s to be the GM(if walsh is President) or a consultant.

    Could u really blame Walsh if he wanted to leave?

  • Anonymous

    I hope he stays a while.
    I think he is a smart man and I respect the hard work he’s done to make The Knicks a playoff team again.

  • OLD KNICK

    Yup! When was the last time _avi_ lee blocked a shot??? Even by accident!

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for your intelligent commentary!

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD

    he should stay and just keep track of the salary

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD

    lee has always been a good rebounder

  • Shpati Papraniku

    I just hope the Knicks do anything to get Donnie back. He started this. He rebuild the team. He cleaned up after Isiah. He made the Knicks a play off team. Donnie did this within 3-4 years I believe. Donnie understands the advantages of a big market team. Donnie understands that true All Stars want to play in the big city. and Donnie knows that they will come if you got the cap space for them. Isiah never tried this, neither did Scott Landen I believe.

    Keep Donnie, and James Dolan needs to let him do his work with out owner intervention.

  • Anonymous

    If I was Walsh I would resign at the end of the season. I might even resign if I was D’Antoni despite having another year on my contract. These two guys did an admirable job of getting under the cap and putting together a very young team with a lot of upside that was going to make the playoffs this year and still have a lot of cap space left to fill in the holes next year.

    They made a few mistakes (like drafting Jordan Hill and then giving him up with draft picks just to move Jeffries off the cap a year earlier to chase after delusions of grandeur), but they weren’t deadly mistakes.

    After all that good work, there is NO QUESTION that Dolan hijacked the Melo deal and made a move AGAINST what D’Antoni and Walsh wanted to do. It’s also highly likely that at a minimum, Dolan was getting his horrible advice from Isiah.

    Why would any self respecting man want to work for this imbecile?

    I’d be out the door.

    Both Walsh and D’Antoni could easily get new jobs where they could operate with an owner that either understands basketball well or gives them complete control over the basketball decision making process so they could build a real contender long term. They also wouldn’t have to deal with a semi brain dead media and fan base that puts pressure on the franchise to do dumb things that benefit the team in the short term but hurt the team badly in the long term. I’d be so out of this hell hole.

  • Anonymous

    Lee also never had Felton, Fields, and a slightly better version of Chandler and Gallo to support him. He had Duhon, Jeffries, and Larry Hughes. LMAO

    He also would have cost about 6M less than Amare which would opened even MORE cap space to get fill another need.

  • Anonymous

    go back and look at the deals he’s made — good ones far far utweigh the clunkers.. He’s got steel balls and isnt afraid to take chances and cut his losses.. most important he’s a smart guy who has experience.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UJDXPJNM7K5FIONZQ6MJE7XDY4 chris b

    Because he has rebound position in deference to playing defense. Watch him continually sag off his man to pick up a bound and let his man get great position on him

  • http://twitter.com/BillySuede Billy Suede

    too bad mucha is right.

  • http://twitter.com/BillySuede Billy Suede

    too bad mucha is right.

  • http://twitter.com/BillySuede Billy Suede

    therein lies your problem. in your example, david lee is the featured player. say hello to 25 wins right there.

  • Guest

    Yes,like you would walk away from 6 million!

  • Anonymous

    I really hope at a minimum his option is picked up. I’d prefer for him to get at least a 2 year contract so he could be here for the off-season of 2012.

  • Anonymous

    Disagree, The idea is to put 5 productive players on the court. Look at Denver. You could argue that Gallo is the #1 scoring option on that team right now and they would sweep NY with Melo and Amare if they met in the playoffs.