HoopsHype.com Rumors

Former New York and Indiana general manager Donnie Walsh was expected to be a leading candidate for the job, but a source close to the Indiana resident said he was waiting for the Pacers situation to unfold before possibly heading elsewhere. Front office sources had said for quite some time that Indiana president Larry Bird was expected to leave the team after this season, and those sources said he even told people close to him to prepare for his departure. But he told local reporters Wednesday that he wanted to meet with owner Herb Simon before making a final decision. SI.com

Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Herb Simon 

A source close to the decision making process within the Orlando Magic organization has informed me that the team is close, and likely to name their new General Manager by the end of the week. Many names have surfaced as potential candidates with many of them set to be interviewed in the next few days. Jeff Bower, Spurs Assistant GM Dennis Lindsey, Thunder Assistant GM Rob Hennigan, Kevin Pritchard, Mitch Kupchak and Donnie Walsh have all been rumored to be potential candidates. magicbasketballonline.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Dennis Lindsey, Mitch Kupchak, Kevin Pritchard, Donnie Walsh, Jeff Bower 

As for Orlando's general manager vacancy, former Knicks president and Pacers GM Donnie Walsh is expected to be a strong candidate for Smith's spot, and a source close to him said he would be interested. With Pacers president Larry Bird expected by most league executives to walk away after this season, Walsh has been considering a possible return to Indiana as well. Former New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower and Indiana executive David Morway also could be possibilities for Orlando. SI.com

Orlando Magic, Donnie Walsh 

Mike D’Antoni and Donnie Walsh, who each left the Knicks within the past year after wearying of the team’s perpetual drama, are expected to be top candidates in Orlando, D’Antoni for the coaching job and Walsh for the general manager position. The departures of Coach Stan Van Gundy and General Manager Otis Smith on Monday were considered inevitable after a tumultuous season that began with Dwight Howard’s trade demand and ended with a first-round playoff flameout. New York Times

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Donnie Walsh 

Marc Stein: Person of interest in Orlando: Donnie Walsh as prime GM candidate. And as @Sam Amick said: Mike Malone and Brian Shaw are strong coach names Twitter

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Donnie Walsh, Mike Malone 

I could see them hiring someone like former Knicks GM Donnie Walsh or Pacers GM David Morway there. As for Dwight Howard, I think everyone realizes he's gone sooner or later and the focus will be on how to best rebuild the team. ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard, Donnie Walsh, Otis Smith, David Morway 

Jason Quick: Donnie Walsh on Monday said he has NOT interviewed with Allen: "I have had no contact with the Blazers and certainly haven't interviewed.'' Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Donnie Walsh 

Jason Quick: Donnie Walsh has NOT been one of those interviews, according to agent @Steve Kauffman. You'd think Walsh has to get interview, right? Right? Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Donnie Walsh 

Donnie Walsh: The Knicks' former president and current advisor has a contract that expires June 30, but has received permission from Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan to speak with other teams about executive positions. Walsh, 71, brought the Knicks back to respectability and has conquered several health challenges over the past few years. He's nowhere near wanting to remain in a permanent state of retirement. With Bird believed to be on the way out in Indiana, owner Herb Simon could keep the structure mostly intact by keeping GM David Morway, making Kevin Pritchard's role more permanent and bringing Walsh back to oversee the front office. There also are indications that the Magic could be interested, which would be a coup for an organization looking to create an atmosphere of respect and accountability to calm the Dwight Howard drama, which has not been extinguished but only delayed. Unless Howard is completely out to lunch, he'd have to recognize that putting Walsh in charge -- with a proven day-to-day GM like former Hornets executive Jeff Bower -- would put the Magic on solid footing. CBSSports.com

Orlando Magic, Donnie Walsh 

Steve Kauffman: "Walsh isn't looking for a "top" job. Nets have expressed interest ..." totally false in both respects. Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Donnie Walsh 

Donnie Walsh, who rebuilt the Knicks' roster and battered image before stepping aside as team president last June, has received permission from the organization to speak with other teams about an executive position, his agent told CBSSports.com Friday. Walsh, 71, has a contract with the Knicks in his role as consultant that expires June 30. The widely respected executive wants to work again and is expected to begin exploring opportunities immediately. "Donnie's very interested in continuing to work on a full-time basis," Walsh's agent, Steve Kauffman, told CBSSports.com. CBSSports.com

New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh 

The Portland Trail Blazers already have begun yet another GM search, and it is believed that Walsh will explore that situation first since the job is known to be open. If Larry Bird steps down as Pacers president after the season, there are indications that owner Herb Simon -- a longtime friend and proponent of Walsh -- would strongly consider a reunion. CBSSports.com

Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Donnie Walsh 

Tommy Dee: Sources tells TKB that Walsh isn't looking for a "top" job. Nets have expressed interest. Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh 

Walsh, I’m told, is eager to get back to work full time for a team as soon as his consultancy contract with the Knicks expires, yet it’s doubtful he would be rehired by Simons. “They’re just not as close as they once were,” claimed a source. New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird 

Look for Walsh to resurface as a reasonable contender for jobs in Orlando or Washington should Otis Smith be fired and/or Ernie Grunfeld not be rehired. New York Post

Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Donnie Walsh, Otis Smith 

The latter is looming. I’m informed the former Knicks president recently turned down a three-year, $4.5 million extension proposed by Wizards owner Ted Leonsis. Most in sports management would kill a mockingbird to pull such power attached to that purse string. Then again, most people haven’t pocketed $4.5 million annually as Grunfeld has over half a decade. New York Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Donnie Walsh 

Stefan Bondy: Strange pre-game interview with Avery Johnson, who seemed to have an agenda: credit Donnie Walsh for Knicks resurgence Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Avery Johnson, Donnie Walsh 

For the record, Knicks interim general manager Glen Grunwald had nothing to do with Lin’s invitation to work out for the team prior to the 2010 draft. Who’s making this stuff up, interim owner James Dolan? For those lacking demi-recall, Donnie Walsh was in charge of stuff like that way back then. Mel Daniels and Walker Russell liked what they saw when scouting Lin and the team president agreed. Walsh told me that summer that Lin’s pre-draft workout was first-rate, but the Knicks’ pressure to preserve cap space prevented them from drafting him in the second round or offering more than a minimum contract. New York Post

New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh, James Dolan, Jeremy Lin, Glen Grunwald 

Knicks owner James Dolan appointed Grunwald, whose official title remains senior vice president of basketball operations, to the role of interim general manager in June when Donnie Walsh decided not to return as team president. It is likely, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation, that Grunwald will hold the position for the entire 2011-12 season. Newsday

New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh, James Dolan, Glen Grunwald 

Also, the Knicks' copy of the lawsuit may get lost in the mail. It was sent to Donnie Walsh, who is no longer the Knicks' team president. CBSSports.com

New York Knicks, Law, CBA, Donnie Walsh, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA