Bucks join Knicks in pursuit of Pacers' CEO Donnie Walsh

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Bucks join Knicks in pursuit of Pacers' CEO Donnie Walsh
By FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, March 19th 2008, 4:00 AM


Cummings/AP

The Knicks are not the only team interested in Donnie Walsh's (l.) services.

Cummings/AP

Walsh, who hired and fired Isiah Thomas as Pacers coach, may have to give him the ax if he takes the Knicks' job.
If James Dolan is serious about hiring Donnie Walsh, he may have to get a deal done quickly.

Walsh, the Indiana Pacers CEO, has already had talks with the Milwaukee Bucks about replacing general manager Larry Harris, the Daily News has learned. A Knicks official revealed Tuesday that the team is well aware that Milwaukee and at least one other club - possibly Atlanta - have reached out to Walsh.

The same official confirmed that Garden management met with Walsh last week in Indianapolis. Flight records obtained by The News showed that the private jet belonging to Dolan, the Garden chairman, made two trips to Indiana over a 24-hour period last week. The Knicks have not made a formal offer to Walsh.

The Indiana Pacers are hoping to keep Walsh. The News reported on Monday that the Pacers' co-owners, brothers Melvin and Herbert Simon, would prefer to fire team president Larry Bird and hand the reins back to Walsh.

When approached for comment on Monday in Indiana, Walsh declined to talk and seemed uncomfortable that the news of his meeting with the Knicks had become public. Walsh's agent, Steven A. Kauffman, declined comment yesterday, which may be a further indication that Walsh and the Knicks are moving closer to a deal.

That Dolan is talking to the highly accomplished Walsh represents the most encouraging news Knicks fans have heard since Dave Checketts, Ernie Grunfeld, Ed Tapscott and Jeff Van Gundy flew to Milwaukee to interview Latrell Sprewell nine years ago. It also confirms that Dolan is committed to mercifully removing Thomas from power and handing the Knicks over to someone with a proven track record who cares about building the Knicks, not just his bank account.

Walsh is the front-runner for the job but there is no guarantee that he will accept it. The 67-year-old Bronx native has established roots in Indiana and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren. However, a person close to Walsh maintains that he is looking for a new challenge.

If nothing else, Dolan appears to have found religion. He finally realizes that serious changes must be made. But before anyone shouts "Hallelujah," there is still some question as to whether Dolan will remain a hands-on owner or if he'll grant a person such as Walsh full autonomy.

The first litmus test will be Thomas' future. While most of the NBA can't believe that Thomas is still employed, who's to say that he automatically leaves if Walsh moves into the front office? Sure, Thomas' days as the club's top decision-maker would be over, and people close to Walsh say there is no chance that Walsh would want Thomas as his head coach. But Dolan could insist that Thomas remain in the organization in some capacity, perhaps as Walsh's assistant or as a scout.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/03/19/2008-03-19_bucks_join_knicks_in_pursuit_of_pacers_c.html

[paulpressey25]

This is the move Kohl needs to make......this guy won't come here without full power......

Don't let us down Herb.....

[MickeyDavis]

Hopefully if Kohl gives him, or whoever the new GM is, "Full Power", he actually has it. That's one reason Grunfeld bailed on us.

[Wise1]

My money says Walsh wouldn't touch Kohl with a 10ft pole. Leverage is Walsh's game when it comes to Milwaukee. If he leaves Indiana, I'd put the Bucks behind Atlanta and New York (in that order) for his services.

[paulpressey25]

GAD maybe has a salary list but usually GM's don't get paid as much as coaches....

If Kohl gives up power and backs up the truck with cash, it might work. Of course why isn't the MJS reporting any of this? Especially now with their nifty blog?

And where does this put the Rick Carlisle/Kevin O'Neil dynamic duo coaching rumor? Maybe a Pacers fan can comment on who fired Carlisle and was that a Bird decision or Walsh decision.

[emunney]

Best news we've gotten in a long time.

[MickeyDavis]

A boatload of cash will help, it did with Grunfeld. But any GM who believes a Kohl promise of no meddling is naive.

[paulpressey25]

Sounds like Brian Winters wants the job......or any job.

http://blogs.jsonline.com/bucks/archive ... eturn.aspx

Herb needs to pass on hiring anyone who ever worked or played here before......

[PaBuck]

My money says Walsh wouldn't touch Kohl with a 10ft pole. Leverage is Walsh's game when it comes to Milwaukee. If he leaves Indiana, I'd put the Bucks behind Atlanta and New York (in that order) for his services.

Don't know about New York. The Bucks are probably ahead of them in the Walsh Sweepstakes. Don't have any cap space to maneuver for major additions. Atlanta certainly looks like the better option for him, but we can still have a shot, albeit from midcourt.

[LUKE23]

No ex Bucks, current Bucks, or anyone with Bucks ties please. This team needs someone from the outside with a fresh perspective and complete objectivity. I would love Walsh.

If we settle for Babcock I will kill someone.

[BobbyLight]

Wow... some good news. Haven't had any of that in relation to the Bucks for a while. Like others have said, if this happens, it's a move we need to make. Get a real basketball person in here. Remember, this guy built the Pacers into an annual contender. If it wasn't for Ron Artest, who knows what would've happend.

[BuckFan25226]

While I would love to get Walsh in here, would it really matter? No matter who we bring in, I just don't trust that Herb will allow whoever he brings in to have full power.

[EastSideBucksFan]

I'm shocked we are talking to real basketball people.



I'd love to get Donnie Walsh as GM and Rick Carlisle as Coach.


Real basketball people with experience


It might be enough to change the culture, along with some personnel moves as well.

[coolhandluke121]

The sidebar in RealGM's report mentions that Rick Carlisle would automatically be crossed off the list of coaching candidates if Walsh was GM. Walsh must have fired Carlisle in Indy or something.

How about Walsh as GM and Larry Bird as coach? Bird's going to get fired anyway, and he was a good coach although he always said he'd never coach somewhere more than three years.

[coolhandluke121]

BTW, isn't it likely that Walsh is just using the Bucks to drive up the price? Although the Bucks do have a better long-term outlook than the Knicks, they don't have the deep pockets or the non-meddling owner the Knicks can offer.

[emunney]

I thought Dolan was also a meddler, though.

Also, the ownership situation in ATL is still a total mess. We couldn't be on a more level playing field in the competition for Walsh's services.

[ReasonablySober]

Like others, my guess is Walsh is looking at us for leverage against a job in NY.

But I'd be thrilled to get a real basketball man like DW.

[paulpressey25]

I agree with Emunney...playing field here is level.....

And with Indy ownership last week saying they would clean house, obviously they've told Donny he's out.

Sparky said he's going to talk about this now on 1250.....if anyone can post an update, that would be great.

[brewguru]

Knowing the way Herb Kohl operates, I can envision the following scenario taking place.

The Knicks hire Donnie Walsh and give him full control of the basketball operations. His first move is to fire Isiah Thomas.

Hearing the discontent from the fans in Milwaukee, Herb Kohl realizes he has to hire a "basketball" man to restore the franchise.

So, Herb hires Isiah Thomas as GM/Coach.

[showtimesam]

If Donnie Walsh has a good relationship with his ex coach Rick Carlisle, it would be absolutely great to have a Walsh/Carlisle duo leading the bucks as opposed to the current Larry squared duo.

If Kohl can hand over the reigns to Donnie Walsh, I'll be very excited for this offseason. Hopefully it happens.