"Walsh wants reassurance that he will have full autonomy on basketball decisions — a promise Dolan made when he hired him three years ago. Although Walsh has generally called the shots, there have been notable exceptions. Last summer, Dolan tried to hire Isiah Thomas, the former team president, as a consultant, over Walsh’s strenuous objections. The N.B.A. later disallowed the arrangement because Thomas is also a college coach, at Florida International University.
In February, Dolan pushed through the Carmelo Anthony trade, despite reservations from Walsh, who felt the Knicks were giving up too much. Walsh had taken a conservative approach to the negotiations, believing that Anthony’s strong desire to play for the Knicks would work in their favor. Walsh is also perturbed that a number of people, both inside and outside the Garden, are advising Dolan on basketball decisions, undermining Walsh’s authority.
As several people with ties to the team explained it, the critical issue is whether Dolan wants the 70-year-old Walsh back badly enough to make those concessions. Money is not an issue, nor is Walsh’s health or his enthusiasm for the job.
“I think Donnie will try to make it work,” one friend of Walsh’s said. “I assume they’ll come to some understanding.”
Most of the front office is also in limbo, with the contracts of several scouts and team officials set to expire June 30. The list includes John Gabriel, the director of pro scouting and free agency; Misho Ostarcevic, the director of player personnel; Mark Warkentien, the director of pro player personnel; Rodney Heard, the director of East Coast scouting; and Mark Hughes, the director of West Coast scouting.
- NYT
3/28/2011 12:22 PM
