James Dolan has until March 31 to exercise a one-year option on Walsh’s contract, and there is no guarantee that the longtime exec will return or will even want to.
Dolan feels it is unnecessary to hire another executive when Walsh already has two former NBA GMs, Glen Grunwald and John Gabriel, working under him.
I continue to maintain that this will always be a tabloid issue until Dolan allows Walsh to hire another body. Clearly, the owner doesn’t care if this overshadows the team on the court.
Team president Donnie Walsh admitted he did not work on Isiah Thomas’ contract to be a part-time paid consultant. But Walsh, who has had health issues this summer, insisted he’s safe in his position and repeated he is not hiring a GM.
“I’m not leaving the job,” Walsh told The Post. “I’m 98 percent and trying to get back to 100 percent.”
Interesting…and good job from Berman getting Walsh’s take.
According to an NBA executive familiar with Knicks team president Donnie Walsh’s thinking, the Knicks are willing to include in a trade anyone other than Amar’e Stoudemire for Chris Paul, knowing how badly the superstar point guard wants to come to New York.
The Knicks will soon find out if Paul is available.
On Monday, Paul is expected to meet with new Hornets GM Dell Demps, new coach Monty Williams and president Hugh Weber in the Big Easy, according to a Hornets official.
“Amar’e won’t be traded, but everyone else is available,” the executive said…Also, their three Golden State acquisitions can only be traded separately until Dec. 15 and can not be paired up in a trade. The biggest trade pawn of the Golden State trio is coveted Anthony Randolph…”
The last part of the statement is not true. The Knicks are under the cap and can trade any of the recently acquired players in a package (thanks DL for the confirmation) before Dec 15th.
And it’s pretty common knowledge that any player on the roster is available especially if it means not having to take back Okafor’s contract. As we reported yesterday, it sounds more and more like Tony Parker is firmly in place next year as a back up plan should the Hornets hold Okafor as the deal breaker.
I would think that they’d want Anthony Randolph over Gallinari, who would be quite partner stretching the floor with Paul and Stoudemire. I would also have to imagine that the Knicks would hold off Gallo AND Randolph in a deal. But at this point you never know.
- Walsh recognizes how important the Celtics’ defense was in stopping Lebron, and mentions the important play of Rasheed Wallace (me too.)
- Interestingly, the interviewer didn’t realize Walsh couldn’t talk about “any one player”…because of tampering rules.
- On a top tier free agent coming to NY a “bad team” over the last 2 years. Walsh thinks the players understand 1 or 2 players “make a huge difference.” If you take the top player off the floor on any given night, most teams are pretty even.
- At this point, Walsh doesn’t know who will sign where.
- Walsh said he feels he can sign David Lee, two max players or 3 or 4 players. They have options. fixed. (10:15).
- Walsh talks about Toney Douglas as if he’s a point guard.
- As we’ve talked about a million times, Walsh knows it’s his job to get D’Antoni defensive players who can score as well. He’s the one responsible for the roster and for providing the defenders to play for the coach.
It’s a concept that our friend “Biggie Smalls” initially brought up and one that was spoken of in another comment section by passionate Gym Rat “knicks4life“:
“…We would have had “Flexibility” in NY after 2011 without trading away all of our first round picks.
Making a rant like this in which you claim that DW has done his job ignores this fact completely. This “plan’ was about 2010. Why is that so hard to understand?
I’m not saying I want Walsh or D’Antoni fired if we don’t land a major star this summer, but to pretend like somehow this was about 2011 or a trade for Melo and Paul when we have no assets is . . .disingenuous…”
Let’s try to put this to rest, because the idea that the team could have just waited until 2011 and be fully out from under cap hell is terribly misleading. When Walsh took over he entrusted the fans with 2010 because it’s the best free agent class of all time. And no one, NOT ONE FAN, argued, at least to me.People understood and respected Walsh had a plan.
We know this.
Now the opportunity is there, right there on a silver platter, something that many of us didn’t think could have happened based on the stench that resonated from that building for over 4 years. But if this is about getting two max players and a game changer, then it may have to extend to 2011. That was the background thinking at least that’s the way I see it and always have.I never saw this as an “eggs in one basket” situation. (more…)
12:01: Having contacted the very generous and wise @larrycoon, the Knicks can buy a Euro free agent out for $500k, as per league rules, and then sign a FA for the league minimum.
We know what the Knicks have to do, and in the same breath, I have little idea of how they will get it done. We know the plan has been to open up the chance to sign two max players or, as Walsh said, “sign as many good players as we can.” But the question I always get is how will they add to the roster if they spend all the money on two big free agents.
I think I have the answer.
We love what we saw from Earl Barron, for the most part, and his minimum contract is a valuable one. So is Bill Walker‘s. According to Larry Coon, the Knicks can get to the Salary Cap number in whatever way, two max; one max, Lee and a 4ish million veteran, but are allowed to fill the roster with minimum contracts.
“… They would then have six more roster spots to fill, and only minimum salary contracts to offer. But they would also enter the 2010-11 season with Curry as an ending contract, and therefore as a more valuable trade commodity…”
Obviously second round picks are minimum contracts as well. And minimum contracts are based on years of service. This may hamper their pursuit of a late 1st depending on the 2 max. Or they can make a trade with a current roster member.It’s why Walsh really pushed for 2nd round picks come 2010. (more…)
“…It’s when you look beyond that plan — and whether it succeeds or fails — that you run into the brick wall of mystery when quizzing Knicks president Donnie Walsh about the myriad possibilities.
There are so many of them, plus so many other variables still to be determined between now and July 1, that there really isn’t yet a Plan B, a Plan C or a Plan D firmly in place…
…One of the biggest questions is this: What is Plan B if that certain Clevelander decides to stay home or sign with another team with max space, be it the Heat, the Nets or even the Clippers?
“I’m not telling any plans. I’m not doing that,” Walsh said. “But look, there’s going to be Plan A, B, C, D, E, F and so on. It’s going to be like that.
“I’m not going to write ‘em out, no, but they’re written out in my head,” Walsh said…”
Is it me or did Walsh seem confident that other plans are in place? Even though the story leads one to believe there isn’t? Let’s let Walsh address plan A and go from there.
The plans, the way I see it, consist of the flexibility with being under the cap and that includes trades. In being under the cap, the Knicks don’t have to match salaries in any deal. So yeah, I’d expect Walsh to have all his ducks in a row when July 1st hits. Sounds like he’s ready to pounce. He’s been planning it for two years.
So when people talk about “backup” plans, a notion I’ve been asked a million times, I’m quite certain all the bases will be covered.
“…He has set himself up to have a great summer,” Bird told the Daily News Wednesday, before his Pacers hosted the Knicks at Conseco Fieldhouse. “He’s created a great opportunity to get some great players. Now, he might not get them all this year. But he’s set that franchise up to get them, and you know that’s a team that will spend the money.”
As Knicks president, Walsh has carved out enough cap space over the last two seasons via trades to accommodate two marquee talents. His plan has not come pain-free, with the Knicks losing in Indiana last night, 113-105, for their 50th loss of the season and fourth 50-loss season in the last five years.
But Bird, who coached for Walsh and then succeeded him as the Pacers’ top basketball executive when Walsh went to New York, thinks that Walsh has gone about rebuilding the right way…”
“…And yet, D’Antoni has received an inordinate number of hits this season, his reputation in the process of being sullied because of too many meaningless losses in a year that will be best remembered for untangling the ugly web spun by Isiah Thomas.
“New York is New York, first of all. That explains a lot right there,” D’Antoni said of the criticism. “They expect certain things. When you come out and you are all hyped up and the season starts, and I am trying to paint a glowing picture, and we don’t meet what we set our goals to be, then there is going to be a natural criticism.
“When it gets down to little stuff, then it gets into banter. I don’t follow it that much. We have a plan where we want to develop our young guys and open cap space, and we’ve done that. When I signed on with Donnie [Walsh, the Knicks' president], I think we are in lockstep with where we thought we’d be…”
D’Antoni also said he didn’t apologize for setting the standards too high. He truly felt that this could be a playoff team.
“…“I don’t think there is a line [between raising expectations and lowering expectations]. I think you are always going to set them up above. That is who I am. Because I truly believe we are better than every team in the league and are going to win every game. I’m not saying that is smart, but that is my personality. And that is just the way it is. If you talk to these guys in [this locker room], they will tell you that I think we are going to win eight straight and still make the playoffs. That is probably not realistic…”
What isn’t realistic is the idea of being positive in the midst of really terrible basketball. I think you can choose to look at D’Antoni is a few ways. He has held players accountable but hasn’t held everyone accountable for a lack of defense and effort, especially Al Harrington and David Lee. But, come on, is he really supposed to SIT Lee? Lee has to play 35 plus minutes. And he’s moved Harrington to the bench. I definitely agree Duhon played too long.
To me, it’s pretty simple. Leadership can’t just come from the coach. There needs to be an extension of him on the floor and in the locker who demands respect. Every winning situation has that. Kevin Garnett comes to Boston and takes over the locker room and supports Doc Rivers. Chauncey Billups and Larry Brown where on the same page in Detroit. Tim Duncan and Pop…and obviously you know the others.
No exceptions. The team obviously doesn’t have that…
“…There is no doubt that Lee has D’Antoni in his corner: Why else would the coach make it a habit of leaving Lee on the floor in the final minutes of blowout losses and wins if not to pad his stats?But when given the opportunity Saturday to say definitively that Lee should receive one of the two “max” contracts the Knicks can offer this summer, D’Antoni gave himself some wiggle room.
“I love David Lee,” D’Antoni said. “I love guys that have that talent. But we have to wait and see about all these guys.”
D’Antoni is referring to the high-profile potential free agents the Knicks will pursue this summer. If LeBron James were to sign, the Knicks would give him the option of deciding which other free agent the team should pursue. And if James were to come to New York, he would likely attract either Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudemire.
Even if James re-signed with Cleveland, there is no guarantee that Lee would return to the Knicks. Team president Donnie Walsh is not convinced that Lee, a poor defensive player, can be a star on a winning team. Walsh’s best teams in Indiana featured rugged centers and forwards and Lee is more of a finesse player…”
There’s nothing surprising about D’Antoni not committing to Lee as a max player. This is the first I’ve ever heard anyone lump Lee in with that group.Considering he was looking for 12 million last year and didn’t receive any offers worth pursuing, how can one wonder if he’s worth a coveted max spot?
That’s putting D’Antoni on the spot and because of Lee’s defense inabilities and the idea that Walsh isn’t “convinced” should simply answer the question about Lee’s max status anyway. Some outlets have already spoken to Lee’s worth and what players are worth per dollar.
Walsh, by the way, apparently had a sit down to tell Lee that he needed to be a tougher defender. I’m sure he’s been told that before. To think that the front office or the coaches haven’t at least addressed the issue before this seems a little ridiculous.
“…According to a Knicks source, Walsh has identified Mullin, the New York basketball legend, as the person to eventually join the Knicks’ front office, most likely as the general manager. The holdup is that the team doesn’t have an opening and/or a budget to add another executive.
Moreover, Walsh is happy with Glen Grunwald, the senior VP of basketball operations, as well as the executives under Grunwald, including Misho Ostarcevic, John Gabriel and Jamie Matthews. The team source says that Walsh would like to groom Mullin as his successor, which makes sense since Mullin has a track record of running a team, most recently as GM of the Golden State Warriors – whom he left last May when it was announced his contract would not be renewed…”
“…McGrady still carries himself like a superstar and talks like a superstar, telling The Post Wednesday he will be a “great player” again. By contrast, McGrady also has said he would love to remain a Knick if they sign two max guys and be a role player. “It takes a while to get back. I agree with them, and I don’t have it now,” McGrady said, referring to the skeptics. “That’s why it’s a great sign for me to know I will be back to being explosive, to being the type of player I was. I came back quicker than a lot of people expected. It’s a great sign to where I was, to where I am now, to how my body feels and knee feels…”
As far as Mullin is concerned- it’s a good hire. Early in his career Mullin was part of some silly decisions such as Mike Dunleavy‘s contract extension in 2006, but he did draft Monta Ellis and Anthony Randolph. The Warriors, behind Baron Davis, another Mullin move, had the Bay rocking in the playoffs back in 2007. Mullin is a NY guy and a legend to many a Garden faithful. Make no mistake, Mullin-Ewing/St.John’s-Georgetown was every bit Magic-Bird/Lakers-Celtics around these parts in the 80s.
As far as T-Mac, the guy has shown flashes, but isn’t playing at a high level. He was and still is worth a look. I can’t believe that the book has been closed on him just yet.
My whole thing with McGrady is that he’d be a really good, cheap, option potentially, but I don’t want a rotation player who can’t play 82 games. Seems to me, McGrady has a long hill to climb before he re-establishes himself as a full-season player.
He’s not going to retire, he’s not opting out, and the Knicks don’t have much of a case from a medical or disability standpoint. Even if they did, who knows how long that would take.
“…Curry would have to give up salary — why would he do that?..”
But what can they do with him is the question. He’s a valuable contract who just gets more valuable as next season goes on. So does a team jump at the chance now to deal for a guy who won’t help them, all the while giving up existing talent? I can’t see that happening. Do the Knicks package Curry with another player this offseason to gain even more cap space?
I believe that would be the play worth pursuing aggressively.
Any way you slice it, they’ve tried for two years to implement him, raise his value and ship him out. He is, fairly or unfairly, the last link to the Isiah Era.
If I’m Donnie Walsh, I look for the best deal to include Curry in, but that’s difficult to do considering he may be able to hold on to him and move him for more value next season. In other words, trade Chandler, Gallo or TD with Curry this off season, or wait until next when his contract is more valuable because the Knicks already paid some/most of it.
What would you do with Eddy Curry if you were Donnie Walsh?
Zags is on the front end and has conversations, the right conversations, and gets the scoop as fas as anyone covering college basketball right now.
Period.
There are plenty of names to throw around in terms of who will land at St. John’s, Iona, Siena, Hofstra etc, and I know Zags will be on top of it. Frankly, I think a lot of people use him as their “sources.”
“…Eddy Curry has a torn myofascial band in his right calf. He is not expected to return for the final 10 games of the season…”
Why has it taken so long for anyone to officially diagnose the injury a “tear?” Sounds pretty serious…
This must have been a nightmare scenario stretch in terms of scheduling for the Knicks dating back to the beginning of the season. I mean, imagine not being close to the playoffs, then having to play Phoenix then the Jazz who own the rites to the lottery pick? Brutal…The Jazz currently have the 9th pick, according to draftexpress and seeing that the odds are so heavily weighted and slots are pretty consistent, aside from the top 4, does anyone really jump out at you as NBA-ready talent who can help a bad team day 1? Cole Aldrich? Ed Davis? Ekpe Udoh? I’ve always thought there is great talent in this draft top to bottom, but I’m starting to think that. I still think the Knicks can come away with good players in the second round, with the chance of getting into the first…
Interesting to read a bunch about this Amar’e-T-Mac stuff. Here’s what I know. Having spoken to a member of Amar’e's “old” camp, the guy is a handful, very needy, easily destracted and very moody off the court. And that’s coming from someone who was hired to help his brand.
“…Hill’s plebe indoctrination was, shall we say, consistently inconsistent. Many DNP’s sprinkled with a few double-digit daylight tours of duty. In two dozen sightings for Camp Cablevision, he averaged about 10½ minutes per, four points and 2½ rebounds. Though Hill’s all-out aggressiveness in games disproved the contention, sources say D’Antoni didn’t feel he worked all that hard in practice…”
Now I’m not in the business to call out Hall of Fame writers, especially ones who played for Coach Curran. But those “sources” are inaccurate in my opinion. I watched Jordan Hill practice as much as anyone. Consider me a “source” too.
In fact, it got to the point where Hill was one of the best players in practice and thus he got minutes. He was pretty much a rotation player in January and early February. That shift happened around Thanksgiving. He struggled up until then and into December then really turned it on. Of the 20 or so practices I attended, Hill worked out afterword with either Al Harrington, Jared Jeffries and always Herb Williams. Allan Houston is always there to add wisdom. John Starks made appearances. The first player off the court and outta sight? Darko Milicic.
My guess? Donnie Walsh was always planning to deal the first pick to move Jeffries if there were no takers for him otherwise. They liked Hill, and wanted to keep him, but in the end it was a necessity to get under the cap by dealing Jeffries’ contract.
Tommy Dee has watched every Knick game since 1988, it's a record that he holds close to his heart, and with apologies to Cal Ripken, believes this is one heck of a streak.
He feels the team needs: perimeter defense, an attitude adjustment, to remove all position-confused guards, someone to protect the rim, and players who respect the jersey.
He also feels basketball is the greatest gift the city has given to its people and can't wait for the day a playoff win actually takes place in the Garden.
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Tommy on Twitter
Source close to the situation: "#melo still has every intention of battling Miami as a Knick" 2 days ago
Neither do I but he def could RT @DinoNYK: @TommyDeeTKB any chance knicks keep gallo and get melo? I dont see him surviving till free agency 2 days ago
No, I wouldn't. Again, i think Melo isn't bluffing about becoming a free agent. could be wrong tho. RT @HankKnight Would you do that trade? 2 days ago
I would say yes absolutely. RT @Dnussbaum: @TommyDeeTKB Do the Knicks get Melo if the give up Gallo, AR, Curry and a first? 2 days ago
not this one. RT @HPbasketball I write a Knicks piece on how awesome they are. Knicks fans think I'm hating. sigh. 2 days ago
“knicks4life“:.jpg "European Ball")
they will get it done. We know the plan has been to open up the chance to sign two max players or, as Walsh said, “sign as many good players as we can.” But the question I always get is how will they add to the roster if they spend all the money on two big free agents.
struck me as a bit odd.
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