ORLANDO, Fla. - Donnie Walsh finally arrived at the pre-draft camp here yesterday and officially began the task of gauging the trade value of the Knicks' sixth pick in the June 26 draft.
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"I'm not sure (it's deep)," Walsh said. "We're dealing with a lot of young players, which makes it difficult. There are guys who are going to be great players and not projected to be great players right now. Our job is to pick that guy."
Walsh will do the evaluation without making another front-office hire. He refuted speculation he's looking to hire a general manager before the draft, going with senior vice president Glen Grunwald. The Knicks have 13 scouts in Orlando and Walsh will conduct meetings with them over the weekend here to discuss the draft.
Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien, who has two years left on his pact, likely would be the leading candidate if Walsh conducts a search this summer, because of their strong relationship. Friends of the two say Warkentien considers Walsh his mentor and has long wanted to work for him.
"I haven't said I needed a new GM," Walsh said. "I know there's a lot of interest because I get phone calls. I got people in place. I'm happy with what Glen is doing."
Walsh said the Knicks could use in this draft a playmaker that makes others better and a shot blocker.
Walsh said he would have interviewed Patrick Ewing for the head-coaching job if the search lasted longer. Ewing spouted off Tuesday about the snub.
"It was no sign of disrespect to Patrick," Walsh said. "At that time, I wasn't interviewing anyone in the playoffs. Then around the time they got knocked out, Avery Johnson and Mike D'Antoni became available and concentrated on them. If I didn't get that kind of guy like I did, he was one of the people I would've interviewed. That's the absolute truth."
