Knicks Rumors: Former Cavs GM David Griffin to Interview for Team President
The New York Knicks reportedly have their eyes on former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin for the vacant team president role.
On Thursday, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com reported New York was "in touch" with Griffin and has him "among the franchise's initial interviews" to fill the opening left after the team parted ways with Phil Jackson.
The Cavaliers decided against bringing Griffin back this offseason even though the team reached the last three NBA Finals and won a championship during his tenure. He was the general manager when LeBron James returned from the Miami Heat, and he traded for Kevin Love and added critical pieces around the King in recent seasons.
James offered an endorsement for Griffin during the season that underscores how valuable he could be for the Knicks, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:
"It makes no sense why he shouldn't get an extension. He's pulled every move—he's tried to make every move happen—to better this team to be able to compete for a championship. So we wouldn't be in this position, obviously, without him and without the guys that are here—from the coaching staff to the players to Griff. He's been a big piece of it."
While Griffin has plenty of experience winning at the highest level and dealing with marquee players from his time in Cleveland, New York would represent a significant challenge. The Knicks are coming off four straight losing seasons, and the immediate future of Carmelo Anthony is hovering over the franchise.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical cited sources who said the Knicks still want to trade Anthony instead of offering him a buyout even though Jackson is gone.
However, Marc Berman of the New York Post explained "Anthony has a no-trade clause he is expected to exercise if anything materializes. Anthony also owns a monetary trade-kicker, making a deal quite an enormous task."
Elsewhere, Griffin would have to deal with any potential lingering issues with 21-year-old Kristaps Porzingis. Wojnarowski previously reported Jackson wanted to trade the blossoming star after he skipped his season-ending exit meeting, noting Porzingis was "frustrated with the level of dysfunction within the franchise."
