Former Cavaliers GM David Griffin, who "parted ways" with the team last week, is a candidate to replace Phil Jackson as President of the Knicks, according to sources cited by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Sources said that Griffin has had an "initial conversation with the Knicks and is expected to have more talks when the team moves to the next level of the process." Sources added that the team is "not expected to ask for permission to speak with" Raptors President Masai Ujiri (ESPN.com, 6/30). In N.Y., Marc Berman notes Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke, who is "heading the Knicks' presidential search," apparently listens to Clippers adviser Jerry West. After West contacted Leiweke to endorse Griffin, the former Cavs GM "contacted the Knicks." West had a "poor relationship" with Jackson during their time together with the Lakers. Griffin could "turn into a serious candidate because he requires no compensation," unlike Ujiri. A league source said that Knicks GM and acting President Steve Mills also "will be considered for the permanent position in what is expected to be an long process." The Knicks figure Mills will "lead the Knicks across free agency" starting Saturday at 12:01am ET and essentially build the '17-18 club. Therefore, there is "no great urgency to fill the position" (N.Y. POST, 6/30). ESPN's Ryen Russillo said if Griffin "wants to get back in the game, he's going to make a ton of money" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/30). ESPN's Domonique Foxworth said of Ujiri, "He has fleeced the Knicks in many trades over the years so if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. It's a great case for him to go down there. It's a low bar" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 6/29). FSI's Colin Cowherd said of the type of exec the Knicks should hire, "It does feel like it's time for a grinder. It's just time for a [Spurs GM] R.C. Buford" ("Speak for Yourself," FS1, 6/29).
THAT TIME OF YEAR: Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari took to Twitter to respond to speculation he was interested in the Knicks' position. He tweeted, "NO ONE has contacted the Knicks on my behalf. I am the coach at Kentucky and will be for a long time!" Another tweet said, "Even in Egypt I can't escape the rumors. Are you kidding me?! It's 5 in the morning here and this is what I wake up to?" (TWITTER.com, 6/29). ESPN.com's Ian Begley originally cited sources as saying that Calipari "reached out" to the Knicks through intermediaries to "express interest." But sources said that the Knicks "do not have interest in Calipari at the moment" (ESPN.com, 6/30). ESPN's Jeff Goodman said of reports Calipari was interested in the Knicks, "I do feel like often this gets misinterpreted. Calipari's got a big camp around him, a big group and it certainly could have been somebody reaching out, having a discussion, and it turning into that Calipari interest in the Knicks. What would an off-season be without a Calipari-to-the-NBA rumor?" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/30).
THE CAROUSEL CONTINUES: ESPN.com's Begley cited sources as saying that another name "mentioned internally as a candidate" is Thunder Exec VP & GM Sam Presti. The Knicks "likely would need to offer compensation to the Thunder for Presti, who is currently under contract." In addition to Presti, reports linked former Knicks exec and current WNBA N.Y. Liberty President Isiah Thomas to the team's presidency on Thursday, but Thomas wrote on Twitter that he "was not interested in the position" (ESPN.com, 6/30). In N.Y., Frank Isola notes promoting Thomas would be a challenge for Knicks Owner James Dolan "considering the sexual harassment lawsuit" the team lost nearly a decade ago. However, Dolan has "made it known that Thomas is his friend and that he values his opinion." It is "unlikely that Mills and Thomas could co-exist in the Knicks front office, so assuming Mills remains in his current position, the likelihood of Thomas returning diminishes." ESPN's Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy have been "mentioned as possible replacements as well" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/30).
CHECKERED PAST: SNY's Marc Malusis said Thomas "knows how to work a room and he certainly knows how to work James Dolan like a puppet." SNY's Jonas Schwartz: "This is the one move he could make that would cause people to stay away." N.Y. Daily News' John Harper: "I know Dolan's capable of anything but even he has a limit to how far he'll go to infuriate his customers" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 6/29). Isola said Thomas took the job with the Liberty as a "way to get back in with the Knicks." Isola: "He's definitely a candidate, doesn't mean he's going to get the job. But believe me, Isiah Thomas is involved on some level." ESPN's Mina Kimes said hiring Thomas "would be a terrible, terrible move." The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw: "This seems like something we really ought to be able to rule out given how badly it went (previously with Thomas)" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 6/29). ESPN's Begley said Thomas has "significant influence ... he always will as long as Jim Dolan owns the Knicks" ("SportsNation," ESPN, 6/29).
THINGS FALL APART: Isola in a separate piece writes Jackson’s ambition was to "make money off his name and lend his championship pedigree to a team that could sell his face and history to fans." What Jackson found was a "desperate buyer with deep pockets in Dolan." And that is where the "nightmare began" for the Knicks. Jackson "set records for futility in his role as Knicks president while alienating players, strong-arming coaches and ultimately hurting the Knicks brand, if that is somehow possible." Jackson's "aloof behavior, poor health, questionable work ethic and stubbornness defined the Zen era as much as anything." Until the "bitter end, Jackson acted like a coach." He "didn't possess the temperament, skill set, experience, work ethic or energy to be [a] successful executive." Jackson "always thought of himself as a coach, not an executive." And what Dolan got was a "consultant, the highest paid part-time consultant in NBA history" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/30). In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan writes under the header, "Phil Is Gone, But Dolan Remains The Problem." The Knicks have "demonstrated a bottomless capacity for chaos and self-destruction under the ownership" of Dolan. Sullivan: "Phil had to go." Now it is "up to Dolan to find a better answer." Ultimately, this is "his mess, one he's been making for nearly two decades"
