Donnie Walsh Out As Knicks Prez, Fans Begin Zeke Freakout

If you are a Knicks fan who flew into a panic earlier this year while reading about Isiah Thomas's secret influence on the team's operations, then this news is bad for you and your vital organs. Walsh is stepping down at month's end, after three years in charge, owner James Dolan tells the media.

Last we heard from Walsh, a source close to him said that he wasn't a fan of Mike D'Antoni. Given that the Knicks are always one giant power struggle, with power presumably apportioned to roadies for JD and the Straight Shot, we can't really tell what or who prompted Walsh's ouster. (Reads Dolan's statement: "Following a long series of discussions regarding his future role with the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh and I have mutually agreed that he will be leaving his position as president, basketball operations of the Knicks at the end of June.") Walsh had been negotiating a new contract extension, but he had never given any indication that he wanted to leave the job.

Oh, and the interim GM, Glen Grunwald, who will help with the search for a permanent replacement? Isiah hired him in Toronto and in New York, both times as a right-hand man. But don't read too much into that. For your own sake.

Donnie Walsh Is Leaving the Knicks [NYT]