Report: Former Nuggets GM Warkentien Leading Candidate For Knicks Position

Mark Warkentien was relieved of his duties with the Denver Nuggets earlier this week after a successful reign as their director of basketball operations, but it appears that he will land on his feet, according to a tweet from NBA reporter Sam Amico.

Ex-Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien, let go last week, appears to be leading candidate to become next GM of the Knicks.

While Donnie Walsh has said he’s currently grooming former Knick Allan Houston for the role, it’d be quite the coup if Warkentien were to come on board – especially since he has a good relationship with Carmelo Anthony.

Donnie Walsh Is Grooming Allan Houston For General Manager Role

Allan Houston was reported to be the top candidate as general manager for the Knicks, but team president Donnie Walsh dismissed that report – at least for now.

“I don’t have a job for a G.M. I’ve said that consistently,” Walsh said.

That doesn’t mean Houston isn’t the top candidate in the future, though.

A person with close ties to the franchise said that Houston, 39, is “being groomed to take over” when Walsh retires. There are two years left on Walsh’s contract — including a team option in 2011-12 — and Walsh said he intends to fulfill them.

As for Houston some day succeeding him, Walsh said the subject has never been discussed and there was no arrangement in place.

“I’m grooming Allan to become a general manager, whether it’s with the Knicks or elsewhere,” he said.

Report: Former Knick Allan Houston A Candidate For New York's GM Position

ESPN's Ric Bucher reports that Allan Houston, the former New York Knick and current assistant to team president Donnie Walsh, is now the leading candidate to take the Knicks' GM position and work under Walsh directly:

Walsh would neither confirm nor deny Houston's status. "He is working with me to learn the position of GM, whether with the Knicks or elsewhere," Walsh said. "I feel Allan has the tools to be a great GM."

Bucher's sources say that Knicks decision-makers are comfortable hiring Houston, who played for the Knicks from 1996 to 2005, as a GM. Walsh has handled GM responsibilities himself since taking over in 2008.