Post by Josh on Apr 2, 2008 15:50:28 GMT -5
sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3325211
Hopefully he gets rid of Isiah as head coach as well. That man has no business working with a basketball team. He has fucked up the Knicks organization beyond belief.
NEW YORK -- Donnie Walsh is taking over the New York Knicks, and he's doing so on his terms.
An NBA source told ESPN.com on Wednesday that the Knicks yielded to Walsh's wishes on several key terms regarding authority and autonomy in reaching agreement on a four-year deal that installs Walsh as the new team president.
The Knicks introduced Walsh at a news conference Wednesday, at which he said he will wait a few days before deciding on coach and now-former president Isiah Thomas' future with the organization.
Thomas is with the team in Memphis, where the Knicks continue a five-game road trip Wednesday night. Walsh said he won't make any decisions until after he speaks with Thomas.
"I need to sit down with Isiah and have a meaningful basketball conversation," Walsh said.
Walsh hired Thomas to coach the Indiana Pacers in 2000 and said Wednesday that Thomas "has a great basketball mind." Walsh also said he needs to talk to players like Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry before deciding what futures they could have with the team.
Walsh will report directly to owner James Dolan, rather than to Madison Square Garden president Steve Mills as was the arrangement under previous Knicks administrations.
"His mandate is clear -- do whatever is necessary to turn this team around," said Dolan, who also is chairman of Madison Square Garden.
New York hasn't won a playoff game under Thomas, its president since December 2003. He became coach in June 2006. Walsh said he believes Thomas still can help the Knicks.
Walsh also will have the authority to establish a new media policy, one that presumably will allow him -- and the Knicks' players -- to have full freedom of speech.
More on the Knicks
In January, ESPN.com's Chad Ford looked at some potential ways to fix the Knicks. Check back on his thoughts.
• Part 1: Isiah
• Part 2: Four steps
Less clear is the future of Thomas, who was with the team in Memphis on Wednesday morning after New York (20-54 with eight games left) lost in overtime at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
The hiring of Walsh means that Thomas has now been stripped of his team presidency, and the question of how -- or if -- the Knicks plan to part ways with Thomas the coach will be the first test of Walsh's leadership.
Sources told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that Walsh is expected to retain Thomas for the time being. Thomas signed a long-term contract extension 13 months ago, and it is possible that Dolan will want to keep him aboard in some capacity.
Walsh's contract is worth about $20 million over four years, although the final year is not fully guaranteed, a source close to the Knicks told ESPN.com.
Word of Walsh's hiring came a few hours after the Knicks' loss to the Bucks, but Thomas was asked following the game if he would have any regrets if his tenure as coach was about to end.
"No, I look back and I look at what we started with and where we're going, and I think we have a very bright future," Thomas said.
Walsh recently announced he was leaving the Pacers after 24 years with the organization. He joined the Pacers' front office as general manager in 1986, became team president in 1988 and CEO in 2003. He helped the franchise rise from NBA laughingstock to title contender.
"One of the highest things on my list is Donnie's happiness," Pacers co-owner Herb Simon said. "If that is what he wants, I'm very happy for him. He has given us 24 years of incredible service. I think he'll do a great job."
Indiana reached the Eastern Conference finals six times and won the Central Division four times during Walsh's stay as an executive. The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2000, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, and had the league's best record in 2004.
"I've often, when I needed some basketball advice, he's on a short list of people that I pick up the phone and call around the league for just basketball matters," NBA commissioner David Stern said last week. "And he works and works and works."
Walsh has had a lesser role in recent years since the Pacers hired Larry Bird as their president in 2003. Walsh had previously said he wouldn't reveal any plans about his future until after the season.
The Knicks haven't won a playoff game since Thomas arrived as president in December 2003 and could be headed for the first 60-loss season in franchise history. Reports surfaced late last month that Dolan had preliminary talks with Walsh. Negotiations moved quickly, with the Knicks apparently interviewing only him.
An NBA source told ESPN.com on Wednesday that the Knicks yielded to Walsh's wishes on several key terms regarding authority and autonomy in reaching agreement on a four-year deal that installs Walsh as the new team president.
The Knicks introduced Walsh at a news conference Wednesday, at which he said he will wait a few days before deciding on coach and now-former president Isiah Thomas' future with the organization.
Thomas is with the team in Memphis, where the Knicks continue a five-game road trip Wednesday night. Walsh said he won't make any decisions until after he speaks with Thomas.
"I need to sit down with Isiah and have a meaningful basketball conversation," Walsh said.
Walsh hired Thomas to coach the Indiana Pacers in 2000 and said Wednesday that Thomas "has a great basketball mind." Walsh also said he needs to talk to players like Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry before deciding what futures they could have with the team.
Walsh will report directly to owner James Dolan, rather than to Madison Square Garden president Steve Mills as was the arrangement under previous Knicks administrations.
"His mandate is clear -- do whatever is necessary to turn this team around," said Dolan, who also is chairman of Madison Square Garden.
New York hasn't won a playoff game under Thomas, its president since December 2003. He became coach in June 2006. Walsh said he believes Thomas still can help the Knicks.
Walsh also will have the authority to establish a new media policy, one that presumably will allow him -- and the Knicks' players -- to have full freedom of speech.
More on the Knicks
In January, ESPN.com's Chad Ford looked at some potential ways to fix the Knicks. Check back on his thoughts.
• Part 1: Isiah
• Part 2: Four steps
Less clear is the future of Thomas, who was with the team in Memphis on Wednesday morning after New York (20-54 with eight games left) lost in overtime at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
The hiring of Walsh means that Thomas has now been stripped of his team presidency, and the question of how -- or if -- the Knicks plan to part ways with Thomas the coach will be the first test of Walsh's leadership.
Sources told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that Walsh is expected to retain Thomas for the time being. Thomas signed a long-term contract extension 13 months ago, and it is possible that Dolan will want to keep him aboard in some capacity.
Walsh's contract is worth about $20 million over four years, although the final year is not fully guaranteed, a source close to the Knicks told ESPN.com.
Word of Walsh's hiring came a few hours after the Knicks' loss to the Bucks, but Thomas was asked following the game if he would have any regrets if his tenure as coach was about to end.
"No, I look back and I look at what we started with and where we're going, and I think we have a very bright future," Thomas said.
Walsh recently announced he was leaving the Pacers after 24 years with the organization. He joined the Pacers' front office as general manager in 1986, became team president in 1988 and CEO in 2003. He helped the franchise rise from NBA laughingstock to title contender.
"One of the highest things on my list is Donnie's happiness," Pacers co-owner Herb Simon said. "If that is what he wants, I'm very happy for him. He has given us 24 years of incredible service. I think he'll do a great job."
Indiana reached the Eastern Conference finals six times and won the Central Division four times during Walsh's stay as an executive. The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2000, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, and had the league's best record in 2004.
"I've often, when I needed some basketball advice, he's on a short list of people that I pick up the phone and call around the league for just basketball matters," NBA commissioner David Stern said last week. "And he works and works and works."
Walsh has had a lesser role in recent years since the Pacers hired Larry Bird as their president in 2003. Walsh had previously said he wouldn't reveal any plans about his future until after the season.
The Knicks haven't won a playoff game since Thomas arrived as president in December 2003 and could be headed for the first 60-loss season in franchise history. Reports surfaced late last month that Dolan had preliminary talks with Walsh. Negotiations moved quickly, with the Knicks apparently interviewing only him.
Hopefully he gets rid of Isiah as head coach as well. That man has no business working with a basketball team. He has fucked up the Knicks organization beyond belief.
