One of the reasons Knicks owner James Dolan wanted to keep Donnie Walsh aboard as a consultant after he steps down as team president June 30 was to help in the search for Walsh’s replacement, The Post has learned.
“That will be his most important function,” one person familiar with the exit arrangement told The Post. “He didn’t renew the lease on his new New York apartment for nothing.”
Dolan has little experience in hiring a Knicks president. Former Garden president Dave Checketts made the call on Scott Layden in 1999. Checketts’ successor, Steve Mills, brought in Isiah Thomas (via Magic Johnson) in 2003. And commissioner David Stern handpicked Walsh to try to restore credibility to the franchise.
“[Walsh] definitely [will] have a lot of input on who’s interviewed but everyone knows who has the final say,” the source said. “But [Walsh will] have a lot of impact.”
Walsh said in a conference call on Friday to discuss his stepping down as president he would be “advising” Dolan on the search. Walsh was keeping his New York apartment for next season, but will live mostly in Indiana. He said he spoke to Jerry West, newly hired as a consultant by Golden State, on logistics.
The search for Walsh’s replacement, according to multiple sources, will be painfully slow, especially because free agency is not expected to begin July 1 because of a potential lockout. One source estimated it could go until August or September.
Plus, Glen Grunwald serving as the interim president, is well-respected, and should be considered for the permanent position, too.
Among the top candidates expected to be interviewed are former Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard, Mark Warkentien, the former Denver GM who is working for the Knicks on an interim basis to help with the draft, former Hornets GM Jeff Bower, who used to coach at Marist College, Knicks assistant GM Allan Houston, former Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry and former Nets president Kiki Vandeweghe.
It’s also impossible to count out John Calipari, but, a source said, he would only be candidate if Creative Artists Agency, which represents the Kentucky coach (and also Carmelo Anthony), “pulls a power move.”
As The Post previously reported, Thomas will not be considered for a formal position, with Dolan finally convinced by his Garden lieutenants bringing Thomas back is not in the best interests of the organization. With Walsh gone, Thomas perhaps can resume an unofficial advisory role after being on the outs in recent months.
Walsh’s failure to get the proper language in his contract in having “final say” on his own successor was the last straw in his backing out of the deal to return as the president. Walsh was offered a 40-percent pay cut for the lockout season because the club envisioned reduced revenues, but the reduced salary was not a factor in his rebuffing Dolan’s deal.
“Donnie doesn’t really care about the money,” the individual said. “It was not the issue.”