Allan Houston is about to be named general manager of the Knicks. That is, general manager of the Knicks’ new D-League team it will operate in Erie, Pa.
The D-League appointment takes Houston, who’s been the Knicks assistant GM, out of the running for the club’s presidency that will be vacated by Donnie Walsh on July 1. Glen Grunwald has been named interim president starting July 1, and the Knicks could name an interim GM, with personnel directors Mark Warkentien or John Gabriel possibilities. Houston has been serving as the team’s assistant GM.
Running the Erie Bayhawks will give Houston an inside track of one day becoming Knicks president, as he’s well-liked by owner James Dolan. Houston was named Knicks’ Player of the Decade for 2000 during ceremonies last season.
“The opportunity to have this new agreement with the Erie BayHawks and the NBA D-League is very exciting for the New York Knicks,” Houston said in a statement. “The impact of the NBA D-League continues to grow, and we look forward to this partnership.”
The move to manage a D-League team is a Knicks first and a philosophical departure. The Knicks have never sent a player to the D-League, believed to be the only NBA club not to do so. Sources have said the Knicks didn’t trust its assigned D-League affiliate (this year it was Springfield, Mass.) because the coaching staff and medical staff did not work for them.
The Knicks will keep the Bayhawks coaching staff intact for the time being. Jay Larranaga is the head coach.
The Knicks could have blown it by not sending 7-foot center Jerome Jordan to the D-League this past season. The Knicks own his draft rights and Walsh requested he play a year in Europe with a Serbian team, Hemofarm. But Jordan averaged 15 minutes a game, typical of rookie players in Europe.
Deputy commissioner Adam Silver said he would try to work with the D-League independent of any NBA lockout.