Could Mullin be in mix as Walsh's heir?

MILAN - Donnie Walsh sat off in the corner of the gym, watching his team practice at the Palalido in preparation for Sunday's exhibition game against Armani Jeans Milano, which will be the debut of Walsh's busy summer of work.

Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton and Anthony Randolph will be in uniform, and their talent will be surrounded by Walsh's first draft pick, Danilo Gallinari, and his Russian find, Timofey Mozgov.

This is Walsh's team, built the way he likes to build a team: young, fast and tough.

Though this is supposed to be a new beginning for the franchise, there is concern that Walsh, 69, could be approaching the end of his basketball career. This is the final season on his contract, which includes a team option for 2011-12. If the option is picked up, that season could be shortened because of a potential lockout, with free agency put off until a new collective-bargaining agreement is reached.

Where do the Knicks go from there? The franchise's leadership structure will be a critical element in the continuation of this rebuild. The transformation toward an elite team began with Walsh's arrival. There are plenty of teams that despise the big-money Knicks but few people who would disparage Walsh.

"I don't know if there's a better guy equipped to handle it than Donnie,'' said Chris Mullin, a former executive of the Golden State Warriors and a Walsh protege who happens to be here in Milan representing the NBA. "I don't know anyone that could have done a better job than he's done already. The work he did to get under the cap, to get into the position he did this summer, and then to get Amar'e, that's good.''

Mullin has long been on Walsh's list of potential hires, but the former St. John's star called his presence here "coincidental'' and said he has "no real plans for anything going forward.'' He seemed quite content with traveling around the world for the NBA, giving clinics and shooting exhibitions. Among a crowd of people, with a portable hoop on the famous Piazza Duomo on Friday, Mullin proved he still has that sweet lefty stroke.

"For me, if the right situation comes up, I would definitely look at it, but it's not like I'm really struggling with what I'm doing,'' Mullin said. "I'm pretty happy.''

The right situation could, of course, involve Mullin working under Walsh with the Knicks, then perhaps taking over for him while Walsh moves into a consultation role as he eases into retirement. But that would suggest that Allan Houston, who has worked closely with Walsh the last two years as special assistant to the president - especially during free agency - no longer is a candidate to replace Walsh. Walsh has a great deal of respect for Mullin and Houston.

Walsh has a long history of offering guidance to players who have an interest in the front office. Mullin said he broached the subject during his final season with the Pacers, when he was relegated to the bench behind Jalen Rose during the 1999-2000 season.

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