Late last week, former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin withdrew his name from consideration for a potential front office job with the New York Knicks.
Initial reports suggested Griffin’s decision stemmed from an inability to nail down a defined role within the organization and how much control he would ultimately have, but apparently there was more.
The New York Daily News reports that one major cog in the process stemmed from Griffin’s desire to compile his own front office staff, which included the removal of Allan Houston as the team’s assistant general manager.
A source told the Daily News that one of Griffin’s requests was to remove Houston, who has been with the Knicks as a player or an executive for the majority of the last 20 years. With Dolan’s support as one of the owner’s all-time favorite players (remember that $100 million contract extension), Houston rapidly ascended in New York’s front office and many believe he’s being groomed as the next GM under Mills.
The belief that Houston is in line to take over as general manager is a long-standing rumor and if this latest report is accurate, it would seem to lend some validity to that.
Knicks owner James Dolan is fiercely loyal to Houston, who has been with the organization as both a player and in the front office for the majority of the last two decades, so finding someone to take over basketball operations but have no control over Houston and others presents its own unique challenge.
H/T: NBC Sports
