Waiting for a shoe to drop
It was my intention to prohibit any discussion of potential replacements while Isiah Thomas is employed by the Knicks, but since James Dolan appears to be poking around for new leadership, consider the ban lifted.
Besides, there’s no other relevant topic worth beating to death.
I can’t find anything new on the Donnie Walsh front, at least nothing my sources are willing to address on the record. There are quite a few insiders around the league who are seconding that nomination, but Dolan is hopefully going to conduct a lengthy search.
Let’s assume that’s why he’s starting now. There are other viable candidates.
We don’t know for certain a change will be made, but if the Knicks are done with Thomas, hiring a capable team president or general manager is the most important move this organization will make. Think about it, a good coach wins four or five extra games a season. A good administrator wins 50 or 60 games a season.
Players make this league go.
As for the conjecture about Thomas hanging around on the sidelines, I doubt it’s going to happen. The organization is aware it’s dealing with an image problem. Cleaning house is the best way to undo some of the damage and paint a new picture, which means Thomas and Stephon Marbury aren’t likely to be around when training camp opens.
They are the faces of this franchise, and the marketing department cannot put their smiling faces on material to promote the sale of tickets. Of course, making them disappear is likely to cost $32 million. I guess we’re about to find out whether Dolan’s checkbook is recession proof.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Does it really matter who they hire? Dolan will still be there. He’s the real problem.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
uh…yes. it matters.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Whoever it is I want a defense oriented guy. I’m sick of sieves parading around as a team.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Unfortunately, I’m with Murth. Until Dunceolan proves he can pick the right guy and not get in their way, Dolan will continue to be the problem. That said, IF Dunceolan stays out of the way this is key!! Any thoughts beyond the usual suspects. What are the right qualifications for a team President or GM. Where else can you find these people besides the NBA?
March 19th, 2008 at 11:09 am
While Dolan is a disaster, if he manages to hire someone of quality (either by blind luck or with help from David Stern) there would be reason to be hopeful. After all, he allowed Isiah to build a team with a free reign. The problem was that Isiah wasn’t up to the task. A competent president/gm could turn the team around, provided he has the same free reign.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
What sense does it make to hire old assed Donnie Walsh? They’ll be right back looking for another GM in 2-3 years. The NYK rebuliding effort needs continuity, not just a replacement for Isiah (whom I’m not totally convinced will be fired). Also, has anyone checked the train wreck that the Pacers have been the last few years? Blame it on Larry Bird, right? Who hired Bird? Walsh. How ’bout getting a younger assistant GM from one of the sucessful western teams, ala the NFL. Then bring in somene like Mark Jackson to coach the team. Can the NYK be bold and bring in some new blood, truly rebuild the team, and stop recycling the same old guys and making the same old mistakes?
March 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
New blood? Scott Layden was new blood. Isiah was new blood. Careful what you wish for.
March 19th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
how many games does a bad owner lose you?
March 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED ABOUT NEW YORK MEDIA IS THAT IT LACKS DAY TO DAY WEEK TO WEEK BALANCE. ISIAH’S BEEN FIRED BY THE MEDIA TOO MANY TIMES.ISIAH AND COMPANY BROUGHT TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS TO DETROIT. ISIAH WAS THE LEADER.IT TOOK TIME, YET IN NEW YORK WHO STARTED WINNING BY COPYING “BAD BOYS” TYPE BALL IS DOGGING THE #1 BAD BOY…DAMN AND AGAIN NOBODY IS SAYING THAT THE LEAGUE HAS VERY FEW REAL PLAYERS IN IT..NO MORE RODMANS, JOHN SALLEYS, PIPPENS, CRAFTY OF VETS LIKE ALEX ENGLISH..SIDNEY MONCRIEF…SO WHY IS THE MEDIA NOT TAKING SHOTS AT THE REAL PLAYERS??? WHY ARE FANS PISSED THEY AINT WON A RING IN 40 YEARS? ISIAH HAS HIS CHAMPIONSHIPS..HIGH SCHOOL,NCAA, BACK TO BACK NBA…SO WHAT MORE YOU WANT?? LARRY BIRD AND THE PACERS ARE LOSSING…DID ISIAH DO THAT TOO? JERRY WEST AINT DID NOTHIN SINCE HE LEFT THE LAKERS..MICHAEL IS LOSSING IN CHARLOTTE..BUT HTESE GUYS ARE REAL CHAMPS..NOT THE PAPER CHAMPS..EVEN PAT RIL;EY IS LOSSING IN MIAMI..IS THAT ZEKE’S FAULT TOO??SHAQ MADE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE..MIAMI HAS A RING…LETS DOG SHAQ..BOTTOM LINE LET ISIAH DO HIM SO YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO WIN!!!! THE PLAYERS ARE TOO WEAK MENTALLY AND FAGILE PERSONALITY WISE TOP HANDLE..THE PRESSURE..THEY ARE NOT BUILT LIKE THAT.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Stop typing in caps you obnoxious dimwit.
March 19th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
“Sorry I gotta tap ya George.”
HEY GEORGY PORGY COMMENT ON THE CONTENT NUMB NUTS…GET THE
POINT? 40 YEARS MAN THE KNICKS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER.. ISIAH IS THE ONLY CAT THAT WILL TAKE THIS JOB AND ALL THE DUKIE THAT COMES WITH IT.FACE NEW YORK HAS DIRTIED THIS GUY. THE PLAYERS ARE NOT PRODUCING..IN THE REAL WORLD YOU GET FIRED IF YOU DONT PRODUCE. BETER LISTEN TO A CHAMPION AND NOT LOSERS LIKE MARK JACKSON, AND THE REST OF THE OLD KNICKS WHO WANNA GET A CHANCE TO RUN THE SHIP…EVFEN THE ALLSTAR GAMES AINT THE SAME WITHOUT ZEKE AND MAGIC PUSHING THE ROCK UP THE FLOOR…DO YOURSELF A FAVOR GO GET THOSE AND 1 MIX TAPE GUYS AT RUCKER PARK..THEY WILL ENTERTAIN YOU BETTER THAN THESE NBA PLAYERS..NBA(NO BALLS ALLOWED..USED TO MEAN NO BOYS ALLOWED.
March 19th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Ben from Detroit,
After reading your pro Isiah rants I have little faith in the Michigan education system. If you witnessed the moves Isiah made on a day to day basis as a coach and GM, you wouldn’t defend him. Just because he was your hero growing up, doesn’t mean he can cut it when it comes to coaching or management. Plenty of great players have shown themselves to be failures as coaches. Since you have so much faith in him, please hire him to run of your teams into the ground. Hell, he could turn the Pistons into a team that gets beat by the Flint Tropics.