In the midst of suffering the unparalleled loss of LeBron James to the loathed Pat Riley and his Heat, the Knicks are experiencing additional upheaval and misery, an impeccable source informed The Post late last night.
According to someone in the know, team president Donnie Walsh “may possibly retire” within the week because of “health” and “a failure to land LeBron” — a plan he sold to Cablevision owner James Dolan soon after signing a $15 million, three-year deal in April 2008.
Neither reason has been confirmed. Walsh, who has next season and $5 million remaining, did not respond to an e-mail concerning his unsteady situation.
“I’m being told you might retire due to health problems and discussions re your replacement are in progress,” I wrote.
I later learned Kevin Prichard may be the replacement. Fired recently by the Blazers with one year left on his pact, he is represented by Warren LeGarie, who’s also Mike D’Antoni’s agent.
If Walsh is indeed about to be ousted, hopefully his health isn’t the main cause. Shortly after the draft, he underwent neck surgery, supposedly to remove bone spurs. Peripheral friends fear is was a reoccurrence of cancer.
Two Junes ago, he had the tip of his tongue removed; he’d been a habitual smoker for most of his 68 years.
The latest surgery knocked Walsh for such a loop, Judy, his childhood sweetheart/wife, who never moved to New York when he left the Pacers, had to come in from Indianapolis to care for him. A wheelchair was needed.
“Coming off the operation we were really worried he might be paralyzed,” said a confidant several days ago.
Isiah Thomas being taken out of mothballs by James Dolan seems to indicate that the boss lost confidence in Walsh.
The former Knicks failure at many jobs and current Florida International coach, who is in line to bank $47 million from Camp Cablevision, was dispatched to Akron on Wednesday to meet with James’ people in a last-ditch attempt to woo LeBron to New York.