Donnie Walsh: James Dolan Stubborness or Walsh Health Issues Root of Decision?

While Knicks fans mourned the departure of team President and GM Donnie Walsh this past weekend, they were fed an array of headlines citing the reasoning behind the unexpected turn of events.

Everything from Walsh's health to the Knicks' current direction to James Dolan's strong will was used to justify the move, and it left Knicks fans wondering what really happened.

A huge part of Walsh's departure definitely has to do with the Knicks pursuit of a "big three."  While Walsh was not opposed to the idea, he resented the way that the organization was going about it.  

However other factors played a large part in this decision, like Walsh's health and relationship with Knicks owner Dolan.  It's no secret that Walsh's health was diminishing, and it's no secret that Walsh and Dolan clashed over the direction of this team.

But what, aside from the Knicks pursuit of a "big three," was the ultimate factor that led to Walsh's departure?  

Was it Walsh's health?  Or was it Dolan's stubborness.

As much as we would like to believe it was Walsh's health that ultimately led to his departure, the latter is the truth.  

Many will argue his health drove him to leave, but we cannot hide behind the facade that Walsh left because he wasn't feeling up to the task of pursuing the organization's vision.  

All season-long Walsh battled issues, yet he still did his job.  He could be seen at the Knicks games with a walker or in his wheel chair.  Walsh conveyed dedication, not a sense of exhaustion.

No, the motivating factor here is Dolan.

He is the one who hit the panic button on the Carmelo Anthony trade.  

He is the one who is set on doing whatever and giving up whoever it takes to form a "big three" in New York.

And he is the one who asked Walsh to take a 40 percent pay cut.

Every time a report surfaces that points to Walsh's health forced him to step down, I can't help but wonder of they forgot the previous caveat.

After all Walsh has done for this organization, Dolan felt it appropriate to ask Walsh to take a pay cut. This is absolutely mind-blowing, considering that the Knicks are only relevant again because Walsh put them in play to acquire players that would make them so.

By that logic, given that Amar'e Stoudemire carried this team for much of the season, had a career year and was an early on MVP candidate, New York should restructure his contract so that he takes a 40 percent pay cut.

It doesn't work like that.

Yes, Walsh's salary was a lot of money to a lot of people, but it's all relevant to the business and his pay-grade is a reflection of his work and worth to his organization.  To ask him to take a 40 percent pay cut is saying he did not get the job done.

And it's absolutely the opposite.  Walsh, despite missing out on LeBron James, exceeded expectations.  He put them in a situation to sign Stoudemire and have the assets to acquire Anthony. He got the Knicks out of the mess Dolan got the team into the moment he put out the welcoming mat for Isiah Thomas.

Could it be that for Dolan, offering Walsh a contract extension with a salary increase was the equivalent to admitting he was wrong?

Or perhaps, was the proposed salary reduction a mere result of a potential lockout?

More likely than not, the lockout was an excuse for Walsh's pay cut, although, we have no idea how long or even if a lockout will ensue, making a 40 percent pay cut premature and inexcusable.

Believe it or not though, Dolan asking Walsh to take a pay cut was not the last straw.

The breaking point came when Dolan continued to refuse to give Walsh the final say when it came to basketball decisions.  Dolan, as evident throughout the past, has this illogical need to be involved in every aspect of this team.

Obviously, there is a case for Dolan's preference because he is the owner of the Knicks, but at the same time, when you have a track record like his, you would be better off allowing paid professionals to make the decisions for you.

But apparently Dolan knows something we don't.

His micromanaging techniques have burnt many bridges over the years, including ones linked to former coach Jeff Van Gundy and long time announcer Marv Albert.  

Sooner or later, Dolan's stubbornness overwhelms people, and Walsh was no different.  He needed the freedom to operate the way he is accustomed to, and Dolan couldn't allow such creativity innovation to take place under his nose.

After everything Walsh did for the Knicks, he deserved Dolan's trust and respect, but such feelings of Dolan's are reserved for the likes of Isiah Thomas.

Media and fans can speculate all they want, and attribute Walsh's departure to his diminishing health, but no matter what Walsh or Dolan may publicly say, the truth is Walsh still had a lot of greatness left in him; he was not tired.

Well that's not entirely true.

He was tired of feeding Dolan's ego.