With Donnie out, Knicks' future suddenly looks cloudy

I've had some 48 hours to digest the news of Donnie Walsh's resignation from his post as general manager and president of the Knicks.

Donnie Walsh, left, with Knicks owner James Dolan.

Walsh's departure shocked Knicks fans, the media and the basketball world, alike. Most of all, the stability that Walsh brought back to the Garden has faded some since his resignation.

The franchise, which spent the 10 years prior to his arrival floundering in losing and dysfunction, once again plunges into the unknown.

Yes, the foundation for success is in place. Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony have re-energized the franchise and will make the Knicks, if nothing else, competitive for years to come.

But remember, it was Walsh who got the Knicks to this point of respectability. In three seasons, Walsh cleaned up the mess that was left by former GM and president Isiah Thomas, purging the roster of bad contracts that he had doled out. Sure, the team's play suffered during those first two years under Walsh, but it was his aggressive slicing and dicing that enabled the organization to get under the cap and procure the likes of Stat 'n' Melo.

At 70 years old, Walsh cited his age, a lack of energy and his reluctance to sign a long-term deal as the reasons for his resignation. But we all know that's just Donnie being the class act he's known to be. He'd never throw his owner James Dolan under the bus by telling the world how things really work at the Garden.

It was widely reported that Dolan wanted Walsh to take a 40 percent pay cut and wouldn't give him the autonomy to make basketball decisions freely, which Walsh wanted guaranteed. It was the point of control that proved to be a deal breaker, according to the New York Times..

Knicks beat writer Howard Beck writes: "In February, Dolan commandeered negotiations in the Carmelo Anthony trade and pushed the deal through despite Walsh's concerns. Walsh had taken a conservative approach and was opposed to giving up as many players and draft picks as Dolan ultimately did in the deal with Denver"

Now with Walsh out, who will guide the Knicks into this next, all important phase?

It's likely the Knicks will look in-house for Walsh's replacement, perhaps tapping former star and current front office assistant Alan Houston. But with Dolan running the show, who knows what direction the Knicks will go. And what will it mean for coach Mike D'Antoni, who has one year left on his four-year, $24 million deal? The future of the offensive-minded coach is suddenly clouded as well.

If it were only about basketball decisions and winning championships (something the Knicks haven't done since 1973),  Dolan would have swallowed his pride and given Walsh the autonomy he coveted. Sure, in professional sports organizations, the power ultimately flows from the owner. No general manager ever has final say over the guy who owns the team.

But Dolan missed the chance to finally step back and let savvy basketball people like Walsh -- a consummate professional, a basketball lifer -- run the show at this all important juncture. Instead, he opts to keep Isiah Thomas in his ear and run the Garden like a political machine, as Mike Lupica wrote in today's Daily News. 

Once again, uncertainty surrounds the short-term health of the franchise. Now at critical moment as the Knicks look to take that next step -- a very important next step -- who knows who will be the man to lead the way.

All I know is that the right man for the job just walked out the door and Dolan was holding it wide open.