As reported in the story linked (sigh), one reason for Grunwald staying as interim is belief that Allan Houston is being groomed for GM.

November 29, 2011 8:47 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@alanhahn

Alan Hahn

Last year we reported that Allan Houston was one of the top choices for the job this year. Houston has always been seen as executive material in the eyes of MSG brass and even Donnie Walsh, but it was Walsh who thought Chris Mullin would be the better fit. Walsh relied heavily upon Houston during his tenure as it appeared that the former Knick was being groomed to rise among the ranks as an executive.

Houston is currently overseeing the Erie Bayhawks franchise of the NBDL.

“In several instances, Houston, and/or those acting on his behalf, interceded to frustrate Rondeau’s pursuit of NBA-related peak-performance coaching work and to ensure that Rondeau did not receive favorable press coverage of his prior opportunities with Houston,” says the suit.

Rondeau, who used to work with motivational speaker Tony Robbins, says he started guiding Houston after the star guard noticed his work with Knicks big man Chris Dudley, a notoriously bad free-throw shooter.

Rondeau claims Houston, now a Knicks executive, shortchanged him on credit for the Knicks’ playoff run and for helping him land a spot on the 2000 Eastern Conference All-Star team.

That “zone” coaching stuff must have worked for Dudley with the Knicks. Oh wait, no it didn’t, he got worse from a percentage standpoint every year in New York.

Even more interesting is that if you “Google” Arthur Rondeau and Tony Robbins…nothing initially comes up.

Former Knicks guard Allan Houston became the team’s assistant general manager recently and appears to remain in line to one day replace top executive Donnie Walsh.

Houston was recently promoted to assistant general manager when he signed a new two-year contract to remain in New York’s front office.

“It goes back to what I said when I first gave him the job; I think he’s a great candidate to become a GM someday,” Walsh told Newsday.

Walsh has one year left on his contract, plus a team option for 2011-12 that must be picked up in April.

Again, the biggest looming question for all Knicks fans is who Walsh will appoint, assuming he’s even interested in reliquishing his post. And from everything I’ve heard recently, I wouldn’t expect Isiah back at all…

First I acknowledged that it was a very good question. I knew coming in that if we try to live our lives based on what people think about us, and how others see us, then we’ll be miserable. Our identity -who we are- must be based on what God says about us. This is easier said than done, but One piece of advice that we share with players who come to NY, is that you can’t care about what people think…

Allan is one of the most easy going guys you can deal with. He’s always working with players and talking to people. He understands the game in New York. When I go to practice I’m not looking for an angle, frankly my conversations are more centered around Xs and Os and player development.  I’ve seen quotes can spun into headline stories and honestly wondered why. I can see where players and coaches get miffed, which is why words have to be used carefully. Sad, but true.

He also made a huge point about other teams talent in relation to the Knicks and it’s one I’ve been saying for a long time.

Great players make role players much better, but moreover, great players understand that.

He mentioned Douglas and Gallo in particular.

A delegation of community and political leaders from New York will visit
from August 25 — 31, 2009 to explore first-hand the current situation
in Israel, as it strives to achieve a lasting peace and provide security
for its citizenry.

“I am pleased to visit Israel on a solidarity mission and look forward
to visiting the sites I have read so much about in the Bible,” said
Houston.

Because at the end of the day, the Knicks will offer the most money, and we’ll have to see if that is the overriding factor for the ex-Duke star.

“…We think we have a chance, but you never know,” a team source said last night. In a visit that blew Jason Kidd’s away, Hill arrived yesterday at the Garden at 11:30 a.m., got the arena tour and the jersey before being whisked to the Knicks’ practice facility in Westchester.

Last night, Hill, his agent Lon Babby, Walsh and D’Antoni headed out for dinner. The Knicks could blow the Celtics out of the water since Boston is using their $5.8 million mid-level exception on Rasheed Wallace and can offer Hill only the $1.9M lower exception.

With Kidd agreeing to terms with Dallas, the Knicks have their $5.8 million mid-level exception to use and can take half of it to top Boston on a one-year deal for Hill, who played 82 games last season, averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds.

“You want to have players who’ve had a lot of success before so they can show the other players how to do it,” Walsh told The Post. “That’s the kind of player we want to bring in…”

Walsh was sure to include Allan Houston in training camp last year for the same reason, but it was such a zoo that the impact of the idea went ignored. Fans really don’t quite fathom how much of a disaster the people Isiah brought into this organization were when they were all in a room together.

Thankfully, that is in the rearview mirror.

Again, the idea that Hill would get minutes at the 2 is good in theory, but he’s a slashing mid-range player. He’s not coming here to play out of position, not when he can go and back up Paul Pierce.

The only thing that makes sense to me about this signing, other than the locker room thing, is that it makes it easier to trade a small forward.

They’re not bringing Hill in to just be a locker room attendant. The guy can still play.

“…The Post has learned Houston has been tabbed to sit on the dais in Secaucus, to represent the Knicks in the May 19 lottery that will determine their draft order. Houston sat on the dais in 2003 during the LeBron JamesLottery and the Knicks landed the No. 9 pick, which they used on bust Michael Sweetney.”

Berman also adds that this could mean more than the Knicks just wanting the always well-dressed, well-spoken Allan Houston to represent them.

“…The Knicks are seeded eighth, with a 2.8 percent chance of moving to the No. 1 slot and a 10 percent chance of landing a top-three position. The Knicks are praying they can get a crack at the draft’s top two prizes — Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio and Oklahoma power forward Blake Griffin — in a lottery otherwise deemed weak.

Houston’s selection is an indication of his growing influence in the organization in his first year as special assistant to team president Donnie Walsh. Houston, who did college scouting in February and March, will be a part of the brain trust selecting their pick and is the possible heir apparent as Knicks GM.”

I like the choice.  Houston is one of the best possible guys who could represent the franchise.  Hopefully he can bring some good luck.  David Lee would probably be the choice if his future was not uncertain, Chandler always seems awkward in interviews, and Danilo only played 28 games.

“…In the intervening time there are more urgent issues — the draft, free agency and trades — to research and resolve. When those issues are settled, that’s when Walsh will determine whether even to hire a general manager.

In all probability, it will happen in spite of how highly Walsh regards senior VP Glen Grunwald; because, should the Knicks ever recoup esteem in the standings, Donnie’s chosen one will succeed him when he retires. His $5 million per contract expires in April 2011, at which time Walsh will have just turned 70.

Though Mullin (if free) unquestionably will be among the top three candidates along with Billy King and Billy Knight — Walsh has Indiana Pacers affections and connections with all three — you had better believe there has been no conversation with Chris; tampering could cost the Knicks a No. 1 pick. So, naturally, there has been no commitment.

Yet the rumors continue to circulate to the contrary. In the last few days, I’ve received e-mails from unsound sources contending Mullin-to-the-Knicks is verbally a done deal. A couple of months ago, I was alerted Mullin was shopping for a home in Westchester (for years, he has owned one in the Hamptons), but the name of the real estate agent was not provided.

Walsh has been bombarded with related rumblings, and not just about Mullin.

“Some guy called me yesterday and said he’d heard I’d hired Billy Knight,” Walsh said. “I have no idea where all this stuff comes from. It’s amazing how much misinformation is out there…”

Knight was rumored to be a leading candidate last season, but Walsh decided not to hire anyone in that capacity. I think Mullin, under Walsh’s tutleage, could be okay. People want to look at his record in Golden State, but they did make the playoffs- an astounding feat.

I wonder where this leaves Allan Houston? Walsh, like us, sees H2O as an executive in the making. I’m sure any hire will have to keep Houston under his arm and allow him the ability to grow.