Knicks named Mark Warkentien new Director of Pro Player Personal

[Champ]

The Knicks have named former Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien their new director of pro player personnel.
Warkentien's ties to Carmelo Anthony and the powerhouse agency CAA cannot be overlooked. This appears to be a prelude the Knicks' trading for Melo in the next three weeks.-rotoworld



MSG president Scott O'Neil, not team president Donnie Walsh, was the one to push James Dolan into hiring former Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien, The Post has learned. The official announcement on Warkentien's hire is likely to come today. Despite his fancy title, O'Neil is not part of basketball operations and is supposed to run the marketing end of the franchise. But, according to an NBA source, O'Neil pushed for Warkentien's hire because he feels it is important for the Knicks to do business with CAA, the agency that represents potential free agents Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. New York Post

 

[Champ]

In other news....

http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...eams_Carmelo_Only_Wants_Extension_With_Knicks

Carmelo Anthony's agent has recently begun to tell teams that his client is only interested in signing an extension with the Knicks, according to sources.

Anthony is represented by Leon Rose.

The Knicks are not motivated to deliver a substantial trade offer for Anthony, which has made Denver's position difficult.

“If you’re New York, you just sit and wait until the offseason,” one general manager said. “That’s where it’s likely to go. Why give up assets to get him now when you can wait and get him next season?”

Said another source: “If ’Melo is telling the world he wants to go [to New York], why fight so hard to get him? [Knicks president] Donnie Walsh knows this.”

The Rockets and Mavericks have interest in trading for Anthony without the expectation of an extension.

“Don’t blame ’Melo. He’s been up front about wanting to go to New York since the summer,” one source close to the talks said. “They better trade him to New York or end up with nothing.”

 

[EmpireWF]

It's getting closer...

 

[Mogriffjr]

he's going to NY...he'll eat the money he wants to make just to go there..

NY wins out of all this...try to make a decent run at the playoffs with what you have...make some playoff dollars, profit.

Get Melo in the offseason...another center


*insert center*
Amare
Melo
Chandler
Felton

Gallinari/Fields/Turiaf/Walker

That's a good team.

 

[EmpireWF]

Get Melo in the offseason...another center


*insert center*
Amare
Melo
Chandler
Felton

Gallinari/Fields/Turiaf/Walker

That's a good team.

I'm thinking the Knicks trade for Melo before the deadline (supposedly Dolan is pushing for it) and let's assume the rumor from Broussard is true and they only really have to give up Chandler (along with Randolph and Curry).

Mozgov
Amare
Melo
Fields
Felton

Gallo/Williams/Turiaf/Walker

Pretty solid team assuming Mozgov continues to grow and play consistent ball

In the off-season, I'm not sure if they'll have the ability to go out and sign one of the RFA centers like LAC's Jordan or MEM's Gasol.

 

[BroncoBlue]

The best thing about Mark Warkentien is he doesn't like to build a team through the draft but rather free agency and he's more a talent guy than character. Also he's a master when it comes to acquireing good talent at bargain basement prices, see the JR Smith deal.

I can tell you this, Warkentiens dream job was the Knicks he wanted that over the Nuggets back when he left Cleveland. NY chose to go another way so Mark went to the Nugs instead.