Since the news broke that James Dolan wouldn't be bringing Donnie Walsh back, Knicks fans have needed something to cheer them up. Their first thoughts were that Isiah Thomas, the man who ran the franchise into the ground, would be re-hired. Thankfully that doesn't appear to be the case, though plenty of people think Thomas still has Dolan's ear. While that's good news, Thomas going back to Detroit would be great news.
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The NBA draft lottery is not rigged. If it were, the Knicks would have won. Instead, Mike D'Antoni, Donnie Walsh and Co., will pick sixth. Chicago had the pingpong balls go its way, with Miami getting the second pick. Those dreams of Derrick Rose playing at the Garden -- think of all the Rose Garden headlines that will never be -- died a quick death with the opening of one envelope Tuesday.
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Results tagged “donniewalsh”
Detroit Might Take Isiah Thomas Off Our Hands!
The Isiah Thomas Affair: Knicks Fans Terrified After Walsh's Departure
Panic has officially set in for city basketball fans since Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh announced he was leaving the team yesterday. Do you really think that four-alarm Prospect Heights fire was just a coincidence? Knicks fans might be sad that the man who helped bring the Knicks back to something approaching respectability after the dire 00s is leaving before he got to finish the job, but they're apoplectic over the mere hint of Isiah Thomas returning to the team. "Never say never about anything," Thomas told ESPN last night, presumably while ominously twisting his pencil thin mustache.
With Donnie Walsh Gone, Will Knicks Get Back Together With Isiah?
So much for hell freezing over: Knicks GM and president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh announced today that he is leaving the team. Knicks owner James Dolan released this statement: "Following a long series of discussions regarding his future role with the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh and I have mutually agreed that he will be leaving his position as president of basketball operations of the Knicks at the end of June. Donnie will remain with the team as a consultant for the 2011-12 season." Right now, every Knicks fan is thinking the same thing: is it just a matter of time until the return of Isiah Thomas? Maybe the Rapturists were right, and this is the start of some kind of hell on earth?
James Dolan May Have Quit Isiah Thomas!
Wait a minute, did hell freeze over? Because mercurial Knicks owner James Dolan may be ending his idea to rehire Isiah Thomas! According to the Post, a source claims that Donnie Walsh is close to re-signing with the team, "with assurance from [Dolan] that he has given up on the idea of hiring back Isiah Thomas in any capacity.... Walsh...is confident he no longer needs to be threatened by the dark cloud of Thomas, according to two people familiar with the situation."
Knicks Keep Chauncey (For $14 Million), Plot Wilson Chandler's Return
The Knicks were the first team eliminated from the playoffs, and now they get to face a horde of questions which are hovering over the franchise: will the team keep Coach Mike D'Antoni and president Donnie Walsh? Who can they get to fill out their roster? Will they ever learn to play defense? Can Walt Clyde Frazier wear his cow suit after Memorial Day?? At least one question mark was resolved today: the team announced hat they will keep point guard Chauncey Billups next year.
Amar'e Thinks Mike D'Antoni, Donnie Walsh Will Be Back
Amar'e Stoudemire, the nearly $100 million man, from being positive about attracting more talent, "Players are looking at the Knicks like, 'I want to play for that team,' so it shouldn't be as hard as it was at the start of the year." Stoudemire even thinks that coach Mike D'Antoni will be back!
Last Night's Action: Knicks Start Their Summer
After putting up valiant efforts in Games 1 and 2 of their series against the Celtics, the Knicks fell flat at home and will have all summer to think about a sweep. Playing shorthanded—Chauncey Billups missed his third straight game and Amar'e Stoudemire wasn't at full strength—the Knicks fell behind and made a furious comeback to make the final score respectable. Kevin Garnett lit up the Knicks, scoring 26 points, and Rajon Rondo had 21. Carmelo Anthony led all scores with 32. Stoudemire had 19 on 5-of-20 shooting. Those two will be back next year, but will Donnie Walsh? That is of course assuming there is a next season. A labor dispute looms.
Knicks Get Carmelo Anthony (Bye, Galinari, Chandler, Felton)
Amare Stoudemire finally has a star to share Madison Square Garden with: After much speculation, he Knicks have agreed to send Danilo Galinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, their 2014 first round draft pick, and two second-round draft picks (one in 2012 and one in 2013) and $3 million to the Denver Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams and Anthony Carter. Plus the Knicks will send Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry and $3 million to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Corey Brewer. The Post reports, "An NBA source said Dolan was hell-bent on getting Anthony to keep him from Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who has become a rival. Denver preferred the Nets' draft-pick-laden trade offer until Mozgov was added."
Knicks May Or May Not Be ThisCloseTo Signing Carmelo
After offering the moon and the stars—Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry and a draft pick— in hopes of acquiring Carmelo Anthony (and other players)from the Denver Nuggets, now it seems like the Knicks could be on the "verge" of the "blockbuster deal." But in the meantime, the Knicks have had to dispel rumors that disgraced former GM and coach Isiah Thomas has been guiding Knicks owner James Dolan. Dolan, coach Mike D'Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh issued a statement saying, "We want to make it abundantly clear that we have been in constant communication throughout this process and the three of us are in complete agreement with everything that we are currently working on."
Dolan STILL Wants Isiah Thomas Back To Lead Knicks
Things have been relatively sunny in Knicksland lately: despite a comedown since their 13-1 win streak earlier this season, they are still hovering above .500 and are holding onto the sixth seed for the playoffs, Amare Stoudemire is an all-star starter, and their rebuilding process has jumped leaps and bounds, even without a second star such as Carmelo Anthony. So what better time to throw the albatross that is Isiah Thomas back into the mix!
Amare Stoudemire Strips Down For ESPN "Body Issue"
The Yankees are in the playoffs, and the Jets and Giants seasons are well underway, so of course this is a perfect time to talk about the laughable losers of NY sports franchises, the Knicks! New star forward Amare Stoudemire is one of the five cover stars of the latest ESPN magazine "Body Issue." Since we are certainly no experts, we'll leave it to you as how this compares with the Jets newest wide receiver, Santonio Holmes.
Isiah's Rehiring Might Violate NBA Bylaws
The NBA is still reviewing the Knicks' rehiring of Isiah Thomas as a consultant, while Thomas remains coach of Florida International University's basketball team, because, well, the proposition is simply very sketchy. One Eastern Conference GM tells the Daily News, "If the league lets this go through, it's opening Pandora's Box. If they allow it, then why wouldn't teams go out and hire Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) or Tom Izzo and have them consult, too? The league has very strict and specific rules on when we can and can't have contact with high school players or underclassmen. But Isiah can do that with his current college job and also working again for the Knicks? That's got to be in violation of those rules."
Stephon Marbury On Isiah's Return: "Good Luck, New York"
Who knew this day would come: Stephon Marbury pities the Knicks and possibly even Knicks fans. The Post caught up with the former player, who is currently playing basketball in China, and Starbury said of Isiah Thomas' return to the Knicks as a consultant, "Good luck, New York. Good luck, New York."
Reports: Donnie Walsh Unhappy With Isiah Thomas' Return
The Knicks may have heralded its rehiring Isiah Thomas, its former GM and coach who left after a series of terrible decisions, with optimism but there's one important person reportedly fuming about Thomas' boomerang back to Madison Square Garden: Knicks president Donnie Walsh. The Daily News reports that Walsh "considered resigning" over the move while the Post says Walsh is "livid." And it seems like other Knicks executives were anti-Thomas as well!
Knicks Say Goodbye to Lee, Hello to Felton
The mass delusion that defined the pursuit for LeBron James has given way to a cold shower of recriminations and backup plans for the Knicks. Two days after LeBron's made-for-TV special "The Decision," next years' Knicks team is starting to take shape.
Derek Jeter Not Interested In Recruiting LeBron James
Guess who's not joining the C'mon LeBron bandwagon? Yankees captain Derek Jeter! The World Series champ told ESPN New York, "It wouldn't make sense."
Making The Call: Despite Knicks Moves, Patience Required
If you are a Knicks fan, Wednesday was the best day you have had in a long time. By getting rid of Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill, the Knicks have probably cleared enough cap room to sign two max-contract free agents this summer. But there are a few important caveats.
UPDATE: Knicks NOT Looking For The Answer In Iverson
When we previously noted on the Knicks burgeoning interest in signing free agent guard Allen Iverson, it seemed as though it was a long shot to happen. But new reports have come out in the last two days that are making us question everything.
This NBA Season In NY: Just Wait Till Next Summer
For basketball fans in New York, the upcoming NBA season is really all about next year. July 1, 2010, to be precise; the exact moment when free agents like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh hit the market. It’s a strange year because you won’t have much to root for and apart from a few core players; the Knicks and Nets will be willing to trade away players in exchange for cap space next summer. And don’t forget Knicks’ fans, former GM Isiah Thomas traded away the 2010 number one pick for Stephon Marbury, so the draft lottery isn’t a possibility.
Marbury Must Stay Away from the Knicks
Stephon Marbury is officially a persona non grata to the Knicks: A meeting to discuss his future with the team ended with, the Daily News reports, "storming out" and the Knicks asking the point guard to stay away!
The Knicks Pave Way to 2010 and King James
All along it has been clear that Donnie Walsh is positioning the Knicks for a run at LeBron James after the 2010 season and Friday he made his boldest move towards that goal yet. The Knicks are sending Jamal Crawford to Golden State for Al Harrington. Crawford is the better player, but with a contract that runs through the 2011 season, his contract is a problem. Harrington is currently hurt and adds another forward to the mix, but his contract expires at the right time (after 2009-2010) for the Knicks to make a run at LeBron. And, the Knicks might not be done, as there are multiple reports that Zach Randolph could be headed out of town as well. Trading his two highest scorers on the same day would be a bold move for Donnie Walsh, but for Knicks’ fans who have waited years for a coherent plan to come out of MSG it is worth it. UPDATE: In addition to sending Crawford to Golden State, Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins are also heading to California. The two have been traded to the Clippers for shooting guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas, clearing even more salary for 2010. In other crazy Knicks news, they may have to dress Stephon Marbury tonight to have the 8 players required by league rules.
Knicks Vote to Stay The Same; Stick Marbury to Bench
On Election Day, vote for the Knicks as the most naïve organization in sports. The Knicks met with Stephon Marbury on Monday and told him they are not going to play him or even dress him for games unless someone gets hurt. Amazingly, Knicks’ management seems to think this problem will now be resolved. Mike D’Antoni told the media, "Pretty soon that story is not going to be fun to read because it is going to be the same old story. You are going to be beating a dead horse.”
Things With Stephon Starting to Get Awkward
In the Knicks' 116-87 loss last night to the 76ers, Stephon Marbury once again found himself on the bench and not in action throughout the course of the game. But unlike the season opener, Marbury was prepped for his bench time by Coach Mike D'Antoni and supported the team while in street clothes. Now the question remains: what the heck do the Knicks do with him?
Knicks and Nets Add Some Talent in NBA Draft
Boy were we wrong about fan reaction at the NBA Draft. Not only did the fans boo the Knicks selection of Danilo Gallinari, but they even started a “Fire Donnie” chant. Why the hate for Gallinari? Well, the fans wanted OJ Mayo and drafting a European player probably brings back memories of Frederic Weis. Perhaps the booing was just Knicks fans getting out their leftover animosity from this past season. Gallinari isn’t a bad pick however. He doesn’t play defense (so he fits right in) but he is extremely good with the ball and can score which makes him a perfect fit for Mike D’Antoni’s system. However, with the addition of Gallinari, the Knicks have a glut at the 3 and the 4 spots, so expect some sort of trade to happen soon, preferably the end of the Zach Randolph era.
Last Night's Action: Rodriguez Doesn't Pitch
D'Antoni Introduced as Knicks Coach
Mike D’Antoni was introduced as the new Knicks coach at MSG today, simply stating he was excited to be here before answering questions from the press. D’Antoni defended his reputation as a coach who didn’t emphasize defense saying that his teams averaged 58 wins over the past four years which means “our team was the best defensive club on the floor 58 nights a year”. He went out of his way to praise Donnie Walsh a number of times and Walsh reciprocated saying, “He can adjust his style to the personnel. We will work together to build this team to be competitive as quickly as possible.”
The Knicks Have A New Coach- Now What?
According to reports, Mike D’Antoni has agreed to become the next coach of the Knicks. D’Antoni will receive a four-year/$24-million deal to move from Phoenix where he led the Suns to 50+ wins in every full season he coached.
Isiah Thomas Banned from Contacting Knicks Players
Isiah Thomas may still be a part of the Knicks organization, but he's been barred from contacting any of the players. The Daily News says the no-contact policy was "part of his reassignment agreement with Knicks president Donnie Walsh."
Isiah Thomas Gets The Ax...Sort Of
It may have come a year too late, but Isiah Thomas is no longer President or coach of the New York Knicks. Donnie Walsh announced Friday afternoon that he had relieved Thomas of his coaching duties saying, "The bottom line is we haven't won and the team didn't look like it was motivated to try to win and compete. Those were the reasons. A new coach is necessary to change direction of the team."
Thomas Plays the Waiting Game with Knicks
His team tied the franchise record for most losses in a season. He assembled a mass of costly players that were long on extra pounds and short on ability to win games. He was found liable on six counts of sexual harassment. The day after Isiah Thomas' Knicks played the final game of the 2007-08 season -- a loss of course -- the coach and the rest of the world are still waiting to learn officially of his fate. The Daily News, however, says he's gone.
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