HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Alan Hahn: Meanwhile, as in the Fix, hearing #Knicks more content to keep Grunwald/Warkentien hierarchy in place and groom Allan Houston. Twitter

New York Knicks, Mark Warkentien, Allan Houston, Glen Grunwald 

Speaking of searches....all remains quiet in the hunt for Donnie Walsh's successor. As we've reported here and in the pages of Newsday several times, the candidates appear to be in-house lieutenants Glen Grunwald and Mark Warkentien and 76ers GM Ed Stefanski, with the latter getting some interest from the Toronto Raptors. Newsday

New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Mark Warkentien, Donnie Walsh, Ed Stefanski, Glen Grunwald 

Leon Rose, the influential agent, had told Knicks officials that the Miami Heat were busily creating payroll room for three stars: James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. He was skeptical that the Knicks could do the same. It was up to Glen Grunwald, the Knicks’ senior vice president and resident salary-cap wizard, to make the case in a face-to-face meeting. “It was a specific request: ‘How can you do this?’ ” Walsh, the Knicks’ president, recalled recently. “They looked at the books, and they didn’t think we could do it. I knew Glen could do that.” New York Times

New York Knicks, Glen Grunwald 

Although he keeps a low public profile, Grunwald has been Walsh’s right-hand man since 2008 — effectively the general manager, but without the title. He has been the point man on numerous trade discussions and has often been the first Knicks official to make contact with other teams during exploratory talks. “He’s been heavily involved,” said a rival team executive, who did not want to be identified discussing another franchise’s inner workings. “He’s been pretty key to what Donnie’s done.” True to character, Grunwald is declining all interview requests while Walsh is still in the president’s chair. (He did speak briefly to ESPN during the draft last Thursday.) New York Times

New York Knicks, Glen Grunwald 

Grunwald’s greatest feat in Toronto mirrored Walsh’s work in New York: successfully cleaning up a mess left by Thomas. The Raptors, an expansion team in 1995, averaged 22 wins in three seasons under Thomas, who was a part owner and the executive vice president. Grunwald assumed the lead role in November 1997 — after Thomas left in a dispute with team ownership — and moved swiftly to upgrade the roster. Three months into his tenure, Grunwald shipped Damon Stoudamire, the Raptors’ disenchanted point guard, to Portland in a deal that sent Kenny Anderson, Alvin Williams, Gary Trent and two first-round draft picks to Toronto. Five days later, Grunwald sent Anderson and others to Boston for a package including Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown and Roy Rogers. New York Times

New York Knicks, Glen Grunwald 

The Knicks are looking for a new general manager. It was mutually agreed upon that Donnie Walsh, 70, won’t stay on when his contract expires at the end of June. Glen Grunwald will serve as interim general manager. “I was a little surprised,’’ Billups said. “I thought Donnie would come back. I don’t know the ins and outs of the situation. But I enjoyed Donnie. Donnie’s great. He’s a basketball guy. He knows the game, knows talent. It was really good working for him.’’ HoopsHype

New York Knicks, Chauncey Billups, Donnie Walsh, Glen Grunwald 

Stoudemire also said he does not feel the vibe will change around the Knicks because of Donnie Walsh's decision to step down as president June 30, citing his return as a consultant for next season. Glen Grunwald becomes interim president. "I was a little shocked," Stoudemire said. "After talking to Mr. Walsh, he felt positive about the situation, which made me feel more positive about it. I talked to Mr. Dolan. He felt comfortable with the situation. All in all, we still got a great organization and have a great chance to win a championship. New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Donnie Walsh, Glen Grunwald 

Asked about the possibility of Isiah Thomas returning to replace Walsh, Stoudemire stopped eating his turkey sandwich and said softly, “I’m not sure what the front office is thinking; it’s out of my hands.” New York Times

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Isiah Thomas, Donnie Walsh, Glen Grunwald 

Marbury said his buyout in Walsh's first season after coach Mike D'Antoni exiled him in November would've been done immediately if Walsh was in full control. Instead, Marbury said, Dolan dragged it out until February, with Walsh powerless, allowing the dark Marbury cloud to hang over the Knicks' heads for months. Now Dolan will look for a new president. Glen Grunwald will be interim and could keep the position during the expected lockout season. "If Isiah Thomas could be president, anybody can do it,'' Marbury quipped. New York Post

New York Knicks, Mike D'Antoni, Isiah Thomas, Donnie Walsh, Stephon Marbury, Glen Grunwald 

Donnie Walsh's successor - actually, successors is more like it - may not even have to change offices. The team of Scott O'Neil, Glen Grunwald and Mark Warkentien, all of whom are already employed by the Knicks, are the front-runners to run the basketball operation, the Daily News has learned. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Mark Warkentien, Donnie Walsh, Glen Grunwald 

Grunwald is highly regarded by his peers around the NBA and within the Knicks organization, having served under both Thomas and Walsh. According to a source, his responsibilities would be to handle the day-to-day functions on the basketball side along with Warkentien, who was hired Jan. 30 as a consultant. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Glen Grunwald 

The bad news about Glen Grunwald, who becomes the Knicks interim president on July 1, is Isiah Thomas hired him in Toronto and then hired him again with the Knicks. Thomas and Grunwald, both out of Chicago, were co-captains on Indiana's 1981 national championship team. The good news about Grunwald is he no longer has much contact with, and is not influenced by, Thomas. Grunwald had too much loyalty to outgoing president Donnie Walsh, who on Friday stunned the NBA by walking away from a contract-extension. Grunwald has been the Knicks' senior vice president of basketball operations since 2006, hired by Thomas to run the front office when Dolan forced Thomas to the bench. With Thomas' dual role as president/coach, Grunwald stayed in the background, despite being the Raptors general manager from 1997 to 2004. New York Post

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, Glen Grunwald 

The Post has learned Grunwald -- unlike most of the Knicks scouts -- has a contract that extends to October, when the potential lockout could still be going on. Virtually all of Walsh's scouts have contracts that expire June 30, including player personnel directors John Gabriel and Misho Osterovic. The big question is whether Grunwald will fill the bill as president for all of next season -- given the expected lockout will reduce revenues and that the current Knicks need front-office stability more than anything. "Glen could do the job," one person close to Walsh told The Post. "He did it in Toronto. If it wasn't for Vince [Carter's] injuries, he'd still be there." New York Post

New York Knicks, Glen Grunwald 

Yesterday, Walsh told The Post: "Glen was a very competent man who was very helpful to me in the last three years. He understands the general-manager role having done it in Toronto. I always had high regard for him when I dealt with him in Toronto and was happy he was here when I took the job. He was very helpful." Because of Walsh's overwhelming Godfather-like presence, Grunwald took a back seat and was not authorized to talk to the media. Even yesterday, despite his new appointment, Grunwald declined comment, saying: "Everything's status quo. Donnie is still running the draft. And then after that I may get the opportunity." New York Post

New York Knicks, Glen Grunwald 

The sources said Dolan's search is expected to include current members of Walsh's basketball operations staff, such as Glen Grunwald, Mark Warkentien, John Gabriel and Allan Houston , along with the few experienced executives available. The sources said MSG Sports president Scott O'Neil, a highly regarded and valued executive who is focused on business operations for the Garden, will not be in the mix to run the Knicks. Newsday

New York Knicks, Mark Warkentien, Allan Houston, Glen Grunwald 

The search for Walsh's replacement, according to multiple sources, will be painfully slow, especially because free agency is not expected to begin July 1 because of a potential lockout. One source estimated it could go until August or September. Plus, Glen Grunwald serving as the interim president, is well-respected, and should be considered for the permanent position, too. New York Post

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

Never one to voice his problems publicly, Walsh swallowed his pride and left with kind words for Dolan, whose relationship with Thomas now looms as large as ever. According to a source, a Knicks employee with long ties to Thomas, Glen Grunwald, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Walsh. Grunwald served as Thomas' assistant GM in Toronto and then in New York. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh, Glen Grunwald 

Frank Isola: An opposing GM tells me not to rule out Garden president Scott O'Neil taking on a bigger role with Knicks and Glen Grunwald becoming GM Twitter

New York Knicks, Scott O'Neil, Glen Grunwald 

Walsh will remain for the rest of his contract, which expires on June 30, and then serve as a consultant for the 2011-12 season. Glen Grunwald, the senior vice president of basketball operations, was named the team's interim general manager while the franchise conducts a search for a new president and general manager. A few likely candidates include former Portland Trail Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard , former New Orleans Hornets GM Jeff Bower , former Golden State GM Chris Mullin and former Denver Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien, who is currently on the Knicks' staff as director of pro player personnel. Newsday

New York Knicks, Mark Warkentien, Kevin Pritchard, Jeff Bower, Chris Mullin, Glen Grunwald