The New York Knicks will likely retain team president Donnie Walsh via a two-year contract extension which could be announced within a few days, reports Howard Beck of The New York Times. Citing multiple sources "with ties to the team," Beck reports Walsh will meet with team owner James Dolan to discuss his future with the club. Every person whom Beck consulted believes Walsh will return.
Walsh took over for Isiah Thomas in 2008, tasked with clearing the Knicks' cap for the summer of 2010. He succeeded, finding ways to trade the big-money deals of Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford, and Jared Jeffries, freeing the salary necessary to sign All-Star power forward Amar'e Stoudemire last July.
However, Beck reports, Walsh wants Dolan to assure him "he will have full autonomy," as Dolan pressured Walsh into trading for Carmelo Anthony despite the president's reservations. In February, the Knicks dealt key rotation players Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and Timofey Mozgov to the Denver Nuggets for Anthony.