<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The decision to replace Larry Brown on the bench with Isiah Thomas could lead to more changes in the Knicks' front office. With Thomas taking on a dual role as president/head coach and his top lieutenant, Brendan Suhr, joining him on the sidelines, Thomas is considering hiring a basketball executive to help run the day-to-day operation. According to sources, former Toronto Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald has emerged as the leading candidate to move into the team's offices at 2Penn Plaza. Grunwald makes the most sense for Thomas because he has experience and he is someone Thomas can trust. Long-time scout Jeff Nix also is being considered. Thomas' relationship with Grunwald began 25 years ago when they were college teammates at Indiana. When Thomas was put in charge of the expansion Raptors, Grunwald was one of his first hires. Even after Thomas was ousted, Grunwald remained with the club and was the Raptors' GM from March 1998 until April 2004. Grunwald was so committed to the job, and so enjoyed living in Toronto, that he obtained Canadian citizenship in 1999. Although Thomas will have final say on personnel decisions, he will need a point man to do most of the legwork. Miami's Pat Riley and San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, two coaches who also have front office responsibilities, have a similar arrangement with their respective teams. Suhr would have been the obvious choice to run the front office but Suhr also will have two roles as assistant coach and director of player personnel. Herb Williams, Mark Aguirre, George Glymph, Dave Hanners and Phil Ford make up the rest of the coaching staff. Hanners and Ford were both Brown hires, and although Thomas has a good working relationship with those coaches, the main reason Hanners and Ford survived is because they have three years remaining on their contracts. That gives the Knicks six assistant coaches, not including Greg Brittenham, the strength and conditioning coach. That number does not bode well for Patrick Ewing, who has been rumored to be rejoining the team for the past two years. Ewing recently resigned from the Houston Rockets in order to spend more time with his family on the East Coast. Throughout last season, Brown said he was interested in hiring Ewing. A source close to Thomas said that Thomas would consider Ewing for a coaching position if and when a job becomes available. Thomas and Ewing are not close friends but the two legendary players always have been cordial to one another. Both Thomas and Ewing are regarded as the greatest players in the history of the Pistons and Knicks, respectively, and yet they have had no ties to their old organizations since retirement. Thomas has worked for the Pacers, Raptors and Knicks while Ewing was an assistant coach with Washington and Houston. He turned down an offer to join the Nets before last season.</div> http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketba...8p-381419c.html Can someone enlighten me on this Grunwald guy?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post"> Can someone enlighten me on this Grunwald guy?</div> Not good, not good at all. He has a history of overpaying, and just being a complete tool. He's a nice enough guy, and he obviously does his best, but he's just not very bright imo. Just look at the contract he gave AD and Alvin Williams, pretty horid, especially considering the length and the age of the guys. Though I don't know what old Glen has been up to since he left but he would definately bring some experience, and let's just hope he learned from his mistakes in Toronto.
Glen Grunwald... What is it with the Knicks and discarded members of the Raptors' staff? First Isiah, then Lenny Wilkens, now Grunwald. Grunwald might be alright as an Assistant, but he's iffy. He had his moments (drafting VC/Mo-Pete/Bosh, trading for Alvin Williams/Antonio Davis/Keon Clark, etc.), but then he really messed up a few times (signing Hakeem Olajuwon/Alvin/Antonio Davis/JYD to ridiculous contracts, drafting anybody outside of the lottery, etc.). Grunwald's got a decent eye for talent, but he'll take gambles that defy logic and usually turn out horrible. Also, he has no knowledge when it comes to drafting Europeans (but it doesn't stop him from doing so). What makes this a puzzling signing is that, with the Raptors, he had a hard time rebuilding. Essentially, he got fired for what Isiah is doing now (delaying the rebuilding process and making trades that only worsen the cap situation).
