Walsh: I'm focused on team, not my contract
New York Knicks' Amare Stoudemire, standing, poses with head coach Mike D'Antoni, left, team owner James Dolan, center, and president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh, right, during a news conference. (July 8, 2010) Credit: AP
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Donnie Walsh said he isn't nearly as focused on his own future as he is on the team's.
Walsh's contract has a team option for next season that needs to be picked up by April 30 for that fourth year (2011-12) to kick in. He has yet to hear from owner James Dolan whether the option will be picked up or if he will be given a contract extension to keep him in place as team president beyond 2011-12.
"I don't think it's a time when I would expect an owner or myself to even be thinking about it,'' Walsh said after yesterday's practice. "I'm more worried about the trading deadline; I'm more worried about the team; I'm more worried about a lot of things. So I really haven't thought about it.''
Asked for comment about Walsh's status, a Garden spokesman said, "We don't discuss anyone's contractual situation."
There have been reports that Dolan has maintained contact with former team president Isiah Thomas, whom he tried to bring back as a consultant last summer before the NBA ruled it would be a conflict of interest.
"The one thing I would like to say is I don't believe any of it, all right?'' Walsh said of the reports. "And for one reason: the one thing I do know about Jim Dolan is he's honest. So I don't believe any of this stuff. I think he'll deal with me honestly and that's what I've always said. So I don't have any problem with anything, period.''
The Knicks have a 25-23 record, the latest they have been over .500 in 10 years. A playoff berth hardly is a certainty, but the Knicks are in sixth place with 34 games left.
Walsh missed on LeBron James in last summer's free agency but did sign Amar'e Stoudemire and is pursuing a trade for Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks also are set up to have cap flexibility for free agents in the next two offseasons. Walsh said this is "exactly where I wanted'' to be in his third year and that "I see a future for this team.''
Walsh said he has not been told the team must make the playoffs for him to keep his job.
"You guys are bringing up all these issues. I haven't heard them from Mr. Dolan,'' he said. "Look, I think he wants the franchise to be going in the right direction. I hope it is. If it isn't, then I understand. It's that simple.''
Walsh turns 70 March 1 and has had three major surgeries - removed cancer in his tongue, spinal fusion and hip replacement - while in New York. But he never let any of it get in the way of his mission. Retirement doesn't scare him, but his competitive fire wants to finish what he started.
"I'm embarrassed by all this when people start bringing all that up,'' he said. "This is the last thing in the world I want. If I were to leave tomorrow, I want to leave here with dignity. I wouldn't blame anybody. I've had a great time here. Everybody's treated me well. I have no complaints, all right? That's where I'm coming from.''
The Dolan family owns
controlling interests in the
Knicks, MSG and Cablevision.
Cablevision owns Newsday.
