[h3]Walsh and Wilson could both return[/h3]
By Jared Zwerling
Knicks president
Donnie Walsh, whose contract expires on June 30, will likely remain with the team
"probably with a two-year contract extension," according to The New York Times. Since the season ended Sunday night, Walsh and
Mike D'Antoni have not spoken to the media, presumably because they first want to see what owner
James Dolan decides to do regarding Walsh.
ESPN.com's
Chris Sheridan reported today that "one holdup [to Walsh's future], a source close to the team told ESPN.com, is that Walsh
'wants to be where he is wanted.' And if Walsh is truly wanted in New York, he desires the front office autonomy he was promised when he first came aboard."
Speaking of Walsh, here's an interesting question: would he have preferred
Deron Williams over
Carmelo Anthony if he had known the All-Star point guard was available? One report, written by SI.com's
Sam Amick, said that "while Walsh is certainly thrilled to land Anthony, he admitted the notion of landing Williams
would have been appealing had he known he was on the market. Asked if things might have turned out differently if he was privy to that information, Walsh said with a shrug when asked by NBA Confidential, 'It might have.'"
Whatever the case may have been, you know there was no stopping Melo from coming to New York. He was the player
James Dolan wanted, and he was the friend since their teenage years who
Amare Stoudemire wanted to compete with for a championship. And it made more sense from a business standpoint to bring back the local Brooklyn kid so all the Knicks fans could sing in unison, "I'm coming home."
Not only does Walsh want to return to the Big Apple,
Wilson Chandler would love to suit up in the blue and orange once again, according to the New York Post. (Let's not forget Chandler's new agent,
Happy Walters, also represents Stoudemire and
Shawne Williams, an unrestricted free agent whom the Knicks would like to re-sign.)
The Knicks could use Chandler's offensive versatility, especially his 3-point shooting (35 percent), as well as his rebounding for a forward (5.7 per game) and shot-blocking. Before he was traded to the Nuggets on February 21, he was second on the team in swats per game (1.4) after Stoudemire (1.9).
If the Knicks want to find room for him this summer, they need to first figure out their situation with
Chauncey Billups, who is due $14.2 million next season. If they bring back Mr. Big Shot, they could sign Will The Thrill to the mid-level exception on a long-term deal. Another possible option would be a sign-and-trade with Denver.
I'm not sure if there's an in-between with JR. Just on talent and potential though, he could one of the steals of the summer.
