Category Archives: Donnie Walsh
via NY Post
As Donnie Walsh moves closer to his second marriage with James Dolan, the Knicks president does so with assurance from the club’s owner that he has given up on the idea of hiring back Isiah Thomas in any capacity, The Post has learned…
Interesting. Nothing new here, as multiple people have told me that Isiah wouldn’t be allowed back dating as far back as several months. Now, does Dolan give Walsh ability to surround himself with his people? And will Walsh ultimately decide to return and continue to build with limited distractions?
Yes, there have been those who have chirped from the back of the classroom that the Knicks should have kept Zach Randolph, 
who is enjoying a solid emergence in this season’s playoffs.
You know, those know-it-all cool kids who are never wrong yet never really turn out alright?
The fact is the Knicks had a plan and stuck to it. And they have two pieces to the puzzle in their prime years.
Which hasn’t prevented some revisionist history in the wake of Randolph’s and Memphis’ extraordinary postseason — as in, wouldn’t the Knicks be better if they hadn’t traded him?
Well, if they hadn’t, there’s no Amar’e Stoudemire because there would have been no cap room to sign him. And no Raymond Felton, also signed thanks to last off-season’s cap room, then utilized in the trade for Carmelo Anthony.
But, the theory goes, if the Knicks had Z-Bo, Wilson Chandler (who played 35 games as a rookie in Randolph’s full season), David Lee (who didn’t blossom until after Randolph left) and Danilo Gallinari (who came the next season) — plus Jamal Crawford, also traded for cap room the same day they dealt Randolph — would they be better today?
No.
I’m sure the roster would look a little different. They probably trade Lee for a center and draft differently, but it’s most certainly revisionist history. Randolph is a tremendous player and a very likable guy. I had the chance to talk to him a few times about Michigan State and Indiana high school ball.
But the trade was made to build the NEW Knicks, not hold on to the old ones. Actually, there’s an important distinction. They didn’t trade Randolph, they traded his CONTRACT.
Loading ...As we’ve talked about in this space several times, word from those with knowledge of negotiations have informed TKB that Knicks owner James Dolan has given Walsh the indication that he wants him to come back as president of the Knicks.
As of last night when Walsh was said to have been thoroughly sifting through the contract offer, per a source, he was making sure it “was what he (Walsh) wanted” and that “there were no surprises.”
It would seem that although no deal is imminent at this point, a deal would appear to be inching closer to getting done.
Stay tuned.
The Donnie Walsh situation continues as the Knicks president, as we mentioned the other day, is taking time to think a ton of 
things over.
He also could be, here comes educated speculation, waiting out the Larry Bird situation in Indiana. Walsh has not spoken to anyone in Indiana about a possible return and he is so close to Bird that, a source tells me, “Larry doesn’t do much non-basketball related without consulting with Donnie first.”
Bird says he’ll get paid through August and has already begun talks about his future with Pacers owner Herb Simon. “You know I do have an owner, I have a boss and he wants me to go through the draft. Hopefully, in the next week or two we can find out what’s going on and we can get some things done.
If Bird remains in Indiana, then I’d expect Walsh to come to an agreement with the Knicks, which is good news for an organization that needs the front office stability. We’ve reported several times here that James Dolan wants Walsh back and they are in discussions on a contract. Walsh, according to a source close to the situation, is looking to be compensated with an offer that he feels is “financially respectful” and at this stage his return is far from imminent.
According to sources, Walsh had become concerned about the increasing influence of some of Dolan’s MSG lieutenants regarding basketball matters. Walsh had taken the job three years ago with the promise he would be the head of basketball operations.
“It’s going to be resolved,” said one NBA executive who has been debriefed on the Walsh saga.
The Knicks had no official word about Walsh’s status but still have not made him available to the media for his customary postseason session, and likely will not schedule such a gathering until Walsh’s future is officially determined. Though Saturday is the deadline for the option on his final contract year, Walsh could instead sign a two-year extension, and that is what’s likely to happen.
“I think Donnie is going to be fine,” one NBA source said.
It is my understanding Walsh has spent the week digging deep and “doing a lot of thinking” about his future here, but he doesn’t want to take very long. Again, expect a decision to come soon. If he does decide to leave a source assured TKB that, “there’s no way he’s retiring.”
From everything that’s being talked about, it is my sense that the Knicks will bring Chauncey Billups back by picking up his option.
Loading ...Also-
Loading ...If you hear the name John Calipari continuously surface as a possible replacement for Mike D’Antoni, my educated guess 
is that it’s because he’s getting antsy in Lexington. Why would he leave one of the top college basketball jobs in the country to risk failing again in the NBA?
If Donnie Walsh returns, which is up in the air at this point, then you’d expect Mike D’Antoni to return. With the state of today’s NBA, where agencies like CAA, which represents Calipari control things like never before, it’s easy to speculate that the former Nets coach could find his way to NY if both Walsh and D’Antoni don’t return and the Knicks find themselves with thin sideline options.
Calipari is a great recruiter, but hasn’t won anything despite constantly loading up teams with NBA talent. He also had 2 Final Four appearances stripped while the coach at UMASS and Memphis. His one effort in East Rutherford was an utter disaster.
He’s simply not the guy to lead the Knicks into the future.
If yesterday was the last time we see Donnie Walsh as president of the Knicks at Madison Square Garden then we should all 
thank him for his part in what has been a pretty remarkable clean up project of his hometown franchise.
Multiple sources close to the situation have informed me that Walsh, at this point, is leaning towards leaving the Knicks and by passing the fourth year of his 4-year deal, but is taking the week to sort thing out.
Ken Berger is reporting that the Knicks are mulling a two-year extension for Walsh.
“The decision is definitely Donnie’s. It always has been. There is still a chance he returns,” a source with knowledge told TKB Sunday. “He wants to be there, but he’s tired of the distractions.”
By “distractions” I’m told, Walsh has grown tired of the constant hovering of the Isiah Thomas shadow that has been played out in the media. Many people are aware that Thomas and owner James Dolan still remain in contact, but it seems more than obvious that a) Dolan hopes Walsh returns and b) Thomas will not be rehired under any circumstances.
“If he (Thomas) wants to consult, Donnie can live with it. He has tremendous respect for Isiah. But this is his team. He’s done all the legwork turning the ship around.”
Still, it’s a convenient place to be from a media standpoint to portray Isiah and a meddler hanging above and superseding Walsh’s decisions.
“It’s one thing to be making phone calls to catch up and chat, and it’s another thing to be running the organization from Florida,” another source said about the Thomas/Dolan friendship. “Jim knows he can’t hire Isiah again in an executive capacity. Donnie has front office respect for is hand in completely re-building this franchise, but it’s up to him whether he wants to deal with everything anymore. It’s more than even he expected.”
There is still plenty of time as Dolan and Walsh have until the end of June to come to an agreement. But what’s soothing for Knicks fans is that Dolan most certainly wants Walsh to return. TKB was the first to report the two had begun discussions several weeks ago.
The Knicks season has just ended and the off-season starts now. The first order of business has to be who is guiding the ship. Fans are certain with the changes that need to be made over the next few months it makes sense that Walsh needs to be the one captaining the ship as they move deeper towards the playoffs and hopefully some playoff success.
Expect a decision to come much sooner before later. Perhaps by week’s end.
Where: MSG
When: 8 pm
Starting Lineups:
Who cares…
We’ve talked a lot about how this could be a swan song for Donnie Walsh at least from a regular season perspective. That remains to be seen. This is the last home game of the season and I agree that there should be some sort of chant for Walsh either way. It is not a foregone conclusion if Walsh will return or not, but it doesn’t hurt to show your appreciation if you feel the need. If you see him at the game, give him a wave and say thank you, or if security allows it quietly approach him and offer to shake his hand. He’s very warm and welcoming that way. I doubt you will be able to get that close, but, again, if you feel the need, by all means tell Walsh how much he’s meant to the franchise in any manner you deem appropriate.
Including a chant that should resonate throughout the arena…
With his future still uncertain for next season, Walsh, who had hip-replacement surgery in November, said speculation he could return to the Pacers in some role is rubbish. Pacers president Larry Bird said this weekend that the club making the playoffs has made him definitely want to return next season. Had it missed out, Bird may have not come back, he said.
“I’m angry about that,” Walsh said of a rumored second stint in Indiana. “There’s absolutely no truth to it. I never talked to [Pacers owner] Herb Simon or anybody else about it. To me, it’s something someone makes up.”
TKB reported last week that any talk of Walsh returning to the Pacers was premature based on his respect for Bird. The fact is, the topic hasn’t been discussed.
← Older postsNewer posts →…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 too much respect for Larry (Bird), who he thinks is doing a great job there.”
