Knicks fans can relax.
The long shadow of Isiah Thomas apparently no longer hangs over the team.
Thomas has reportedly removed himself from consideration to succeed Donnie Walsh as team president, and endorsed interim president Glen Grunwald.
“I love Glen, he’s one of my favorite people on Earth,” Thomas said on the Ian O’Connor radio show on ESPN Radio. “He’s very competent, extremely smart, loyal to winning. He’s always done a good job wherever he’s been. He’s qualified, capable and extremely smart.
“Those three guys, [Grunwald], [John] Gabriel, [Mark] Warkentien, they are really good at what they do. They have experience and know how to select talent. All of them could do a good job. The three guys they have in house are really good.”
Walsh announced Friday that he would leave his post June 30, serving as a team consultant through next year. He will remain as President through the draft, and Grunwald will take over July 1.
Like Walsh, the contracts of Warkentien, the former Nuggets GM and Blazers executive, and Gabriel, the former Magic and Sixers GM who is now the Knicks’ pro personnel director, expire June 30.
The New York Post reported that both men are in New York this week, when the Knicks are hosting predraft workouts and a free-agent tryout camp, but it remains unclear if they will interview with team owner Jim Dolan.
Under one scenario reported by the Daily News, Grunwald and Warkentien would both be retained and would report to Garden president Scott O’Neill
The Post also reported that Thomas is not under consideration for the Pistons head coaching job.
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