Getting the Knicks competitive next season is also a consideration. And there's a chance he can improve the situation with the sixth overall pick in the upcoming draft.

"The best way to look at this is it's a big asset to have whether you take the pick or look to trade," Walsh said.

With the future of controversial playmaker Stephon Marbury uncertain, the Knicks could probably use a point guard capable of picking up the pace. Arizona's Jerryd Bayless, Southern Cal's O.J. Mayo, Indiana's Eric Gordon, UCLA's Russell Westbrook and Texas' D.J. Augustin, are all considered top 12 picks.

It's unclear how most would fit into the system Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni favors.

He is very familiar with one player, Italian export Danilo Gallinari, a lanky swingman whose father, Victorio, happens to be tight with D'Antoni.

"That was my roommate and teammate for eight years, so obviously there's a connection," said D'Antoni, who starred overseas with Milan. "But at the same time, I don't know where the scouts are or what Donnie has in mind, so I guess in the next three weeks we'll figure that out."

Since the end goal is to get under the salary cap following the 2010 season, Walsh is likely to have a deal in place just in case the player he targets comes off the board five picks into the process. Very few top prospects are older than 20, so it's difficult to project where they might be in two seasons.

"There's a lot of good basketball players available in this draft," he said. "You just have to find the right one. Most of these guys, at that age, it's going to take some time to develop their minds, their bodies and their games."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: There wasn't anything happening on the court all season to get excited about, so New York didn't react until the Knicks went out and hired Donnie Walsh as the new president of basketball operations with two weeks to go in the season. It was a signal that ownership was no longer charmed by Isiah Thomas, who failed to deliver in four-plus seasons as president and two seasons as head coach and was fired.

TURNING POINT: Embattled head coach Isiah Thomas lost respect in the locker room after Stephon Marbury learned he might get benched on a flight to Phoenix where the Knicks were kicking off the first extended road trip of the season. Marbury went AWOL for a game, and when he came back, Thomas gave the controversial point guard extended minutes against the wishes of his teammates. When the Knicks got home following the winless trip out West, they had a 2-7 record and no confidence.