Walsh steps down as Knicks president

NEW YORK, June 3 (UPI) -- The New York Knicks announced Friday Donnie Walsh had resigned as the team's president.

Knicks owner James Dolan said Walsh would remain as a consultant for next season but would no longer run the team's day-to-day operations.

"Following a long series of discussions regarding his future role with the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh and I have mutually agreed that he will be leaving his position as president, basketball operations of the Knicks at the end of June," Dolan said.

Walsh left the general manager's position with the Indiana Pacers to take the New York job in 2008. He soon fired Coach Isiah Thomas and hired Mike D'Antoni to replace him.

The Knicks acquired forward Amare Stoudemire last year, with a reported 5-year, $100 million contract. During the 2010-11 season, Walsh traded for forward Carmelo Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups from the Denver Nuggets.

New York went on to produce its first winning record (42-40) in a decade and the Knicks went to the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Boston swept the Knicks in the conference quarterfinals.

"In a relatively short time with the Knicks, Donnie made a tremendous impact, which will be felt for many years to come," Dolan said in his statement. "We thank Donnie for his leadership, hard work and many contributions to the revitalization of the team."

Dolan said Glen Grunwald, the team's senior vice president of basketball operations, would take Walsh's place on an interim basis.