New York Knicks: 5 Reasons Kevin Pritchard Should Succeed Donnie Walsh

Since being unjustifiably ousted as the general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Pritchard has done some consulting for the Indiana Pacers, but surprisingly has yet to be hired officially by another team to be the head of basketball operations.

With Donnie Walsh's extension yet to be picked up and his health declining, hiring Pritchard as their general manager would prove to be a prudent move for the New York Knicks, since he has been known to be a clever businessman who will do everything in his power to better his team.

Although he was responsible for completely turning around a Portland team (nicknamed the "Jail Blazers") characterized by their selfish players and off the court problems, he ended up being fired and underappreciated for his remarkable contributions.

However, in New York he would instantly become an admired figure, utilizing his business savvy and eye for talent to acquire the perfect blend of players that would maximize the Knicks' chances of winning a coveted NBA championship.

He Is a Shrewd Businessman

Pritchard has the rare ability to make the trade or signing that is beneficial to his team, while also putting the opposing team at a disadvantage as well.

The perfect example of this was when he signed Paul Millsap to a $10.3 million offer sheet, forcing the Jazz to match the offer and making them spend even more than they would've had to.

While this move did not land Paul Millsap for Portland, it resulted in shrinking Utah's cap space and eventually them having to relinquish lock down defender Ronnie Brewer at the trade deadline.

Although it was not directly advantageous for the Trail Blazers, it crippled their division rival from obtaining any major pieces when the free agents hit the market that summer. While this seems like a cruel thing to do, it was just Pritchard doing what was right for his team.

The foresight that he has as a businessman would be invaluable to the Knicks, since weakening your opponent can be just as important as strengthening your own team in order to become a true contender. He is also experienced enough to handle the mass amounts of media attention he would face in the Big Apple.

Donnie Walsh's Health Is Declining

When Donnie Walsh inherited Isiah Thomas' mess, he had enough patience to see the big picture. He realized that freeing up salary cap space would net the Knicks one of the 2010 marquee free agents.

As the rest of the NBA waited anxiously for LeBron's decision, Walsh wisely inked Amar'e Stoudemire to a 5-year, $100 million deal giving the Knicks their first superstar since Patrick Ewing. While LeBron skipped off to South Beach, the Knicks put together a team that was comprised of young and athletic players to surround STAT's star power.

Only one season later, Walsh would then net the Knicks the services of Carmel Anthony, one of the best scorers in the NBA.

Compiling a roster that is unrecognizable from the disaster he inherited from Isiah Thomas, Donnie deserves a tremendous amount of credit and really deserves the job to complete what he started.

Unfortunately, with New York being one of the most demanding markets in the NBA to work in, Donnie Walsh's health must be taken into consideration. Being hounded by the media and receiving constant criticism with every move he makes could prove to be detrimental to his health.

Since it is looking like the Knicks will not sign him to an extension this upcoming April, he deserves to hand the team off to a seasoned executive who will build upon the foundation Walsh has started. If Pritchard utilizes the same business techniques that made him so revered in Portland, New York may become a contending juggernaut faster than many realize.

At only 44 years old, Pritchard could become a mainstay in New York for years to come if he is hired, and quite possibly accomplishes the aforementioned goal.

He Excells in Evaluating Talent and Character

From Left to Right: Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Nicolas Batum.

When Pritchard took over for the Trail Blazers as their general manager, he inherited a team that was notorious for its egotistical personalities and selfish style of play.

The way Pritchard used the NBA Draft to obtain draft picks and veterans was a work of art. The only general manager to masterfully use the NBA Draft in the same way he did is Sam Presti of the Oklahoma City Thunder (whose accomplishments warrant him and the team an article of their own).

In his tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers, he acquired fundamentally sound players such as Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum, along with renowned veterans like Andre Miller and Marcus Camby which helped the condemned franchise to rise from the ashes and reach the playoffs.

Although they are constantly bombarded with injuries, they remain resolute and resilient. Since Kevin Pritchard revamped the roster with a myriad of veterans and talented youngsters, the team has reached the playoffs every year, and is on pace to do so this year as well, even without him at the helm.

Realizing the opportunity to sign an executive of Pritchard's caliber and seizing it quickly could be the difference between New York becoming an elite team or continuing to meddle in mediocrity. It would also keep Isiah Thomas from coming back as a GM, which remains a possibility since he and James Dolan have such a close relationship. However, hiring Pritchard and his proven track record of success as opposed to hiring Isiah Thomas, who crippled the Knicks financially, is obviously the prudent move to make.

He Would Build Around Melo and STAT with Resilient and Motivated Role Players

From Left to Right: Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Chauncey Billups.

As mentioned in the previous slide, Pritchard does not just draft and trade for talent. The players he obtains have a tough mentality and resiliency that is needed in order to find success in New York.

With two superstars in place already, the Knicks need to acquire a strong supporting cast that can take the pressure off of 'Melo and STAT on the defensive end, and lighten the scoring load on both of them as well.

If Pritchard is in fact hired, the thing that should take some of the burden off him is that the Knicks roster has some striking similarities to the roster Pritchard left behind in Portland.

The Knicks have Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Landry Fields as where the Trail Blazers have LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Andre Miller and Nicolas Batum. I realize that Portland also has Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby, who are defensive pieces which set apart the Trail Blazers roster from the Knicks offensively loaded squad.

However, the aforementioned four players from each of the respective teams have more similarities than differences. The main difference is between Carmelo and Roy. It is worth noting that Roy is not the elite scorer he was before being plagued by injuries. Instead he utilizes his high basketball IQ and fundamentally sound game to dominate his opponents. Obviously the Knicks have the advantage with Carmelo Anthony, since he is healthier and is one of the most proficient scorers in the NBA.

The point of going off on that tangent is this: when Pritchard inherited the doomed "Jail Blazers" team he practically had to revamp the whole roster. Whereas with the Knicks he would be handed a team that already has a core group of players he can build around to make a contender. Even with all the pressure he would face in New York, his job would still be much easier since he would not have to do a complete overhaul of the current Knicks roster. 

Allan Houston Is Not Ready to Become a Head General Manager Yet

While this reason may seem a little odd since I said earlier that Isiah Thomas would be a likely candidate due to his close relationship with Dolan, this is an important one to consider since Allan Houston has been working closely with Donnie Walsh.

My reasoning behind this is simple: Allan Houston does not have enough experience yet to take over as the general manager of a team. Especially one like the Knicks whose roster is in such flux right now.

Being groomed under Kevin Pritchard after working closely with Donnie Walsh can only benefit Houston as a basketball executive. The experience he would have accumulated after working with two accomplished general managers would properly prepare him for the role of general manager in the future. 

When reviewing the impressive roster that Kevin Pritchard put together in Portland, it is a wonder that they ever let him go. General managers with Pritchard's proper mix of business savvy and basketball knowledge don't come around often.

Standing on the edge of success, the Knicks must bring in someone who can build upon what Donnie Walsh has masterfully put together, and there is no better man for the job than Kevin Pritchard.