Grunwald Promotion, Melo 'Love' Could Bolster Knicks' Woodson
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald had his interim tag officially removed on Tuesday.
Now the focus shifts to another "interim."
Grunwald's promotion could strengthen Mike Woodson's hopes of returning as the team's full-time coach. The Knicks are 16-6 since Woodson — a college teammate of Grunwald — replaced Mike D'Antoni in mid-March when the team was 18-24.
"I would love to come back," Woodson said Tuesday. "I think when you've been given an opportunity to start something you'd love to finish it. But again that's not my call. And I think when that time comes I'll probably have an opportunity to sit down and talk to (owner James) Dolan and management about it and hopefully it will work in my favor."
Knicks star Carmelo Anthony told reporters he would like Woodson to return.
"Just to see what he's brought to our team, the confidence that he's instilled into everybody, the belief that he has in everybody," Anthony said. "Just his coaching style, the way he's coached, kind of a hard-nosed coach. Hold everybody accountable out there, saying that everybody is responsible for their own actions. I would love to see him back around here."
Grunwald, meanwhile, had been serving on an interim basis since July, after Donnie Walsh opted not to return. He acquired center Tyson Chandler before the season to become the defensive presence the team long lacked, and signed key players such as Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis, Steve Novak and JR Smith along the way.
"Glen has done a terrific job this season," Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan said in a statement. "He is an intelligent, seasoned executive and we look forward to him continuing in the role of general manager for many years to come."
The Knicks enter Wednesday still with hopes of finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference, despite a tumultuous season that saw coach Mike D'Antoni resign in March.
"I would like to thank Mr. Dolan for this opportunity," Grunwald said, "and look forward to building on our commitment to give our fans a team that they can be proud of today, and in the future."
Should the Knicks even consider other candidates for head coach or just hand the team to Woodson? Sound off below...
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