If Knicks team president Donnie Walsh decides he does not want to be here next season, one solid candidate was at the Garden last night — Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo.
Colangelo’s deal with Toronto expires on June 30 and his future is very up in the air, according to league sources.
The Raptors are going through a part-ownership change that has derailed any sort of extension talks with Colangelo, who hired Mike D’Antoni in Phoenix and is still very close to him.
If D’Antoni and his coaching staff is part of James Dolan’s future, hiring Colangelo makes a lot of sense. Colangelo, who had rousing success with the Suns, is amidst a major rebuilding project in Toronto, which is 21-56 after last night’s no-show 131-118 loss to the Knicks.
Sources say Colangelo prefers to stay in Toronto but he could well become one of the hot free-agent executives on the market, having once sent Stephon Marbury to New York to clear cap space for Steve Nash.
Ironically, Colangelo’s father, Jerry, was once considered for the Knicks’ presidency before Dolan, upon strong recommendation from commissioner David Stern, opted for Walsh.
The Post reported in yesterday’s editions that two sources believe it’s up to Walsh if he wants to return for next season.
Dolan, during the Carmelo Anthony press conference in February, gave strong hints he would want Walsh to return next season.
During the press conference, Dolan said, “Donnie’s done a great job on this trade. He’s done a great job since he’s been here, especially putting us in a position to even think of adding players of this caliber. Donnie is as respected inside our organization as he is throughout the NBA. He and I have agreed to get through the trade deadline, then we will sit down and discuss his contract that expires in June. We will comment on that at the appropriate time.”
One source familiar with the situation said Walsh may feel his work is done; getting the club back into the playoffs. His relationship with Dolan is hardly solid. Walsh had mixed feelings on giving up so much in the Anthony trade and Dolan pushed him toward taking the leap.
There are plenty of other names who would be in the mix if Walsh doesn’t return, including newly minted Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, whom Walsh probably would want. Also, there’s Allan Houston, Kevin Pritchard and Knicks consultant Mark Warkentien.
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Rookie Andy Rautins, who had knee abridement surgery Friday, will miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs, according to a team official.
Rautins could have been used the final week since D’Antoni is looking to rest players.