David Griffin, Knicks Nearing Contract Talks

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelbourne reported Saturday night David Griffin and the New York Knicks are moving toward contract talks to bring the former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager to Madison Square Garden.

After several conversations and a dinner meeting with franchise executive Steve Mills on Friday, the New York Knicks are progressing toward opening contract negotiations with David Griffin to become the team’s next general manager, league sources told ESPN.

Griffin, the ex-Cleveland Cavaliers GM, traveled to New York this weekend to meet with Mills, with whom Griffin has continued to discuss the shaping of a potential Knicks partnership.

Griffin is also expected to meet with owner James Dolan in the near future, league sources said.

In the wake of Phil Jackson’s departure as president of basketball operations, Mills is expected to move into the president’s title — with Griffin, if he becomes GM, taking over the primary responsibilities of running basketball operations, league sources said.

One potential stumbling block to the Knicks’ pursuit of Griffin, league sources said: the willingness of the organization to allow Griffin to bring his own front office and staff into Madison Square Garden.

Griffin has a trusted inner circle of front-office and scouting personnel who played a part in building the Cavaliers’ roster into one that went to three consecutive NBA Finals and won the 2016 NBA championship. Griffin is one of the NBA’s most connected and respected executives, and he may not agree to a scenario in which he must inherit a bulk of the front office, league sources said.

While it’s far from a done deal, if Griffin joins the Knicks, it would make for some interesting possible trade discussions surrounding Carmelo Anthony, who the Knicks hope to unload and Cleveland hopes to acquire.

We’ll see if Griffin is able to bring his team of front office staff members with him if he takes the job and how much power he woud have under Mills, who’s expected to be announced as team president.