2008-09 Season in Review: Through Donnie’s Eyes
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For a team that entered the season with a new president, new coach and the optimistic plan of building for the future while still putting a competitive group on the floor each night, the Knicks managed to play exciting ball most of the time they hit the court, much to the delight of their fans.
Over the last few weeks, nyknicks.com has taken a look at how the 2008-09 season played out and what to expect for the future.
Part 4. Through Donnie's Eyes
A day after the New York Knicks closed out the 2008-09 regular season, nyknicks.com sat down with President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh at the Knicks’ training center as he discussed the team’s future, Eddy Curry and Danilo Gallinari’s rehab plans, and much more.
On retaining restricted free agents David Lee and Nate Robinson...
“I would like to, and I told both players that. But I haven’t spoken to their agents, so I have no idea what they’re thinking, nor do I have an idea of what other people would pay for them. That’s all to be discovered. But they both have shown that there’s a place for them on a good team I think.”
On Curry’s offseason plans...
“He’s going to be working here for awhile to just make sure everything is OK with him – probably about two or three weeks. My understanding is that his agent is going to bring him to Detroit to work with a physical therapist to get in condition and get his body back. I think it will be in May, but I’m not 100 percent sure on that.”
On Curry playing in June’s NBA Summer League in Las Vegas...
“That will be up to him. We have veterans who want to play in Vegas, so if Eddy wants to play, he can play. From our standpoint, we just want him to be in condition and ready to play when training camp starts, and we would do anything to support that.”
On Danilo Gallinari’s offseason plans...
“Before he got operated on he said he was going to stay (in New York). We’re going to rehab him and then he’ll go into core work. There will be a time when he takes some time off, but it won’t be until the end of the summer.”
On Gallinari playing in the summer league...
“I don’t know, I’ll have to go by the doctors there. I don’t need to see him in Vegas, let’s put it that way. I think I saw enough of him to know he’s a really good player.”
On the importance of making the playoffs entering free agency...
“I don’t know the answer to that to be honest with you. I know it seems to make sense that you’d be more appealing to a free agent if you were in that position, but I’m not 100 percent sure. I haven’t talked to these guys about it.”
On the fans being patient during the Knicks’ rebuilding stage...
“They act like they think our team played as hard as they could and they appreciated that. They appreciated some of the players. And they appreciated Mike (D’Antoni). I think from just the standpoint of what was going on they would say, ‘This is better.’ That’s the kind of thing they would say to me. And I’m in New York, so I didn’t expect it.”
On the possibility of making major roster moves before the summer of 2010...
“I’m going to protect that, but if you’re saying I can get a player of that caliber next year, then, yeah, of course there are exceptions to any kind of plan. And I could say to addition to that, we’re trying to make the team better right away too.”
On how adding one player could make a difference...
“I would hope we get more than one, but one player could make a big difference. I think Kevin Garnett made a big difference (in Boston).”
On the upcoming Draft Lottery not being too strong...
“They always say that at this time. But by June, we’ll be fighting over all the players, absolutely. There are good players; you have to pick the right one for your team.”
