If the New York Knicks hire David Griffin as president of basketball operations, will it affect the Cleveland Cavaliers’ pursuit of Carmelo Anthony?
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the New York Knicks and David Griffin have had preliminary talks regarding the franchise’s vacant president of basketball operations role. Griffin, who was the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers until he and the organization decided to part ways a bit over a week ago, would be taking over for Phil Jackson, who parted ways with the Knicks organization earlier this week.
ESPN also reports that NBA legend Jerry West, who has an advisory role with the Los Angeles Clippers, reached out to the Oak View Group’s Tim Leiweke to endorse Griffin as a candidate. Leiweke, a partner of the Knicks’ organization, is working with general manager Steve Mills “to help develop a go-forward plan” according to owner James Dolan (via official press release).
Griffin would consider the job to be the type of big-time opportunity he’s been waiting for:
"Griffin has long coveted a big job like the Knicks and considers all of his experience in two-plus decades in the league as an apprenticeship for such a challenge."
He’d be the best candidate for the Knicks because of his experience, recent success with the Cleveland Cavaliers and unlike Sam Presti or Masai Ujiri, he won’t be under contract with another team.
Griffin is unlikely to be opposed to trading Carmelo Anthony either; he would probably push for it with the way things sounded when he left the Land.
Not the reason #Cavs parted ways, but am told David Griffin had no interest whatsoever in trading for Carmelo Anthony.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 20, 2017
With that being said, considering the Cavs’ interest in the embattled forward, could strike a deal with the Knicks for Anthony be easier with Griffin in town? Griffin clearly doesn’t believe that Anthony’s trade value is worth Kevin Love’s, so he wouldn’t be asking for a lot in return. In addition, where Jackson ousted a player like Iman Shumpert from the Knicks, Griffin may want to bring him back.
In fact, the Knicks could receive a package of Shumpert, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson from the Cavs, three players in the second unit of a championship contender, and likely feel like it’s fair compensation for Anthony with Griffin in charge. Griffin has long-been a fan of the sharpshooting Frye and he looked at defensive-minded Shumpert like the headliner in the trade that brought J.R. Smith to the Cavs.
The off-court demeanor of the three and their locker room presence would be invaluable for changing the culture of the Knicks franchise. While a culture change may or may not result in wins, it’ll go a long way in making the Knicks a more attractive free agent destination than they are.
Can the Cleveland Cavaliers hope for another assist from Griffin?
If a trade brings Anthony to the Land while allowing them to keep Kevin Love on the roster, Griffin may be the most beloved executive in Cavs history.