Close, but no cigar, David Griffin reportedly moving on from New York Knicks general manager consideration

It seems that David Griffin will not be taking the New York Knicks general manager position, after all, a source told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

There appear to be at least two sticking points according to those close to the source.

Contract talks between David Griffin and the NY Knicks broke down because Griffin wants to bring in his own people.

Griffin also wants to be president just like Phil Jackson, who the Knicks fired on June 28, 2017.

Griffin, who was general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, believes being a leader on the management team that brought the Cavs its first NBA championship should count for something.

Not directly reporting to Jim Dolan and having to report to Steve Mills, who is rumored to be named New York Knicks President, was not an option.

NY Knicks haven’t made an official announcement, but Wikipedia summary box suggests Cavs former general manager David Griffin is Knicks new general manager

While preparing for the production of the next episode of What’s The 411Sports, I wanted to do more research on the Cleveland Cavaliers former general manager, David Griffin, who recently had a meeting with the New York Knicks. I discovered an entry on the Wikipedia summary box under David Griffin’s name, New York Knicks general manager.

I reached out to the New York Knicks, but I have not received a confirmation as of this writing.

Was that a diss from Knicks' Carmelo Anthony to Nets' Jeremy Lin? Carolina Panthers Cam Newton still in concussion protocol

Check out video of Episode 79 of What's The 411Sports, where the panel of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Sydney Wayman, are talking about:

The return of Tom Brady after serving an NFL four-game suspension for deflated footballs

MLB Playoffs - in particular, the Chicago Cubs; can the Chicago Cubs take it all?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will come under center in NFL Week 6, and a whole lot more in the video for What's The 411Sports Episode 79.

Before the tip-off of this 2014-15 NBA season, Phil Jackson, the President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks believed that he assembled a team good enough to qualify for a playoff spot.

That hasn't been the case.

The 5-32 Knicks, fresh off of securing yet another loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, 105-83 (12 straight), are on pace to challenge the (2012) 7-59, Charlotte Bobcats for the worst record in NBA history.

The climate around the Knicks has become so putrid that change was evident and Jackson initiated operation codename: Blow It Up.

Yesterday evening, the Knicks joined the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal which expressed the Knicks state of mind, fixated on the future.

The Knicks dealt Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cavs.

Point Guard/Shooting Guard Iman Shumpert and Shooting Guard J.R. Smith traded by the New York Knicks to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo Credit: NBA

The Cavs sent Dion Waiters to the Thunder while dealing Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson to the Knicks.

Dion Waiters on his way to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-way deal involving the Cavs, Knicks, and Thunder. Photo Credit: NBA

Cleveland Cavaliers send Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson to New York Knicks in three-way deal also involving the Oklahoma City Thunder. Photo Credit: NBA

The Thunder shipped Lance Thomas to the Knicks and a protected future first-round pick to the Cavs, who sent their 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks.

Former Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Lance Thomas is on his way to the New York Knicks in a deal which included the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo Credit: NBA

I will miss what Shumpert brought to this Knicks team on the defensive end of the floor, as well as, his potential as an all-around player.

It needed to go.

All of the players the Knicks received in this trade have non-guaranteed contracts.

It is the season of giving and it seems like the Orange and Blue New York team is the only team that is not participating in the festivities.

With this trade, the Knicks shed the contracts of Smith and Shumpert off the books and waived C Samuel Dalembert, moves which will save the team an excess of $20-million in salary and luxury taxes according to ESPN.com.

It also gives the Knicks $30-million in cap space to offer to free-agents in the upcoming off-season period.

In this trade, the Knicks recognized that this season is a forgone conclusion while the other two trade partners in this deal have the opportunity to reap the benefits of their acquisitions immediately.

The Cavs bolstered their perimeter defense in gaining Iman Shumpert and added a streaky but proven scorer in Smith, who is now in a better environment.

Dion Waiters can help the Thunder offensively despite the logjam at the shooting guard position (Reggie Jackson, Anthony Morrow, Jeremy Lamb even Russell Westbrook).

Although Shumpert is out with a shoulder injury, Smith can come in and provide another scoring option for the inconsistent Cavs who are currently missing Lebron James due to knee and back injuries.

Former New York Knicks point guard/shooting guard Iman Shumpert. Photo Credit: NBA

When Shumpert returns, Kyrie Irving should benefit, as Waiters and his 10.5 points per game and need to have the ball in his hands to make plays for himself and others occasionally, will no longer be an issue.

Shumpert does not need the ball to be effective and adds defense to a team sorely lacking that element after losing big-man Anderson Varejao for the season due to a torn-Achilles.

For Smith, a winning environment is what he needs.

Former New York Knicks forward and Sixth Man of the Year, J.R. Smith. Photo Credit: NBA

The last time Smith was in a situation where winning was a priority, he won the sixth-man of the year award, just saying.

For OKC, I understand the acquisition of bringing in a guy like Waiters to a team whose focal points in Westbrook and Kevin Durant have missed significant time on the court this season but then again I don't.

How will Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks manage his guard situation?

Waiters needs the ball to be effective and so does Westbrook, Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Anthony Morrow.

He cannot play these guards and keep everyone happy which means someone may be the odd man out in OKC.

Another reason why this move is questionable is because the Thunder failed to sure up their most important need in a low-post threat.

It's the reason why they targeted Bulls C Pau Gasol this past off-season.

Serge Ibaka is a nice player but prefers to do most of his damage from outside opposed to under the basket.

Kendrick Perkins, enough said.

It seems like this trade was a win for every team involved except the Knicks for various reasons.

Hopefully this move is one of many moves the Knicks will make when they will actually be required to do so from the public at large.

The 2015 free-agency period can't come any quicker can it?

Carmelo Anthony Makes History

Things went so well this Sunday evening for New York Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony; he made history and led his team to victory.

That usually doesn't happen on the same night.

Anthony became the 40th player to join the NBA's 20,000 points club, finishing with a team-high 28 points to lead the Knicks to a thrilling 96-93 win over the re-branded Charlotte Hornets.

Unfortunately, the Hornets were hit with the injury bug.

A member of their young core in forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a rib contusion mid-way into the first quarter after falling awkwardly in trying to corral a rebound from Knicks guard, Shane Larkin.

I must say that I love the new look Hornets re-branding returning to the NBA because the Bobcats logo and branding was horrible.

Just seeing those Jerseys reminds me of Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, but anyway the Knicks won.

The early ball-movement of the Knicks offense was very encouraging and along with solid team defense, the Knicks were able to build an early 15-5 advantage on an Anthony made three-pointer with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter.

More of the same ball movement trend leaked into the 2nd quarter in which the Knicks took the largest lead of the game, leading 45-30 with 4:37 remaining until halftime.

Iman Shumpert starred in the first half contributing 11 points doing most of his damage from outside.

His defensive tenacity, over-zealous at times, regulated him to the bench as he gained his second foul with 6:41 remaining in the first quarter.

He would contribute the game-changing play later in the game.

With basketball being a game of runs, it was only a matter of time until the Hornets got their feet wet and familiarized themselves with their surroundings.

As the Hornets cut the early lead to single digits, the ball-movement the Knicks exhibited throughout the first half vanished which then resulted in a game of possessions.

The Hornets cut the Knicks early double digit lead and trailed by two points, going into halftime down 50-52.

It was homecoming for the Hornets All-NY back-court, Lance Stephenson and Kemba Walker who did everything in their power to spoil the Knicks second home game of the year.

With the Knicks unable to preserve their early lead and the Hornets evenly matching up with their opponents, the second half of this game produced plenty of gut-wrenching moments for both fans of both teams.

It was a back-and-forth affair. You score, I score.

The biggest lead held by either team in the second half was three points.

That explains it all.

The Knicks can never win comfortable and give their fans an easy night off.

Everything the Knicks do is designed to provide a difficult task for themselves as well as their fan-base.

From that perspective, they definitely delivered.

Al Jefferson plagued the Knicks all night long scoring inside with ease with the only capable defender being Samuel Dalembert, who troubled Jefferson by forcing the low-post scorer to his left.

Due to Dalembert's defense, Jefferson was taken out of the game offensively as he produced a scoreless fourth quarter.

It was all up to the back-court hailing from New York City, who both came up short in the deciding quarter.

Stephenson was less aggressive and played the role of facilitator while Walker was limited to a two-point fourth quarter courtesy of Knicks reserve guard, Pablo Prigioni's defense.

There's a reason why he's still on this roster.

Even with the limited production of the Hornets back-court, the Knicks struggled to put the Hornets away and found themselves in a hole with the game hanging in the balance.

A made jump-shot by Hornets reserve guard Gary Neal and a Walker reverse lay-up granted the Hornets a 93-90 lead with 2:49 remaining.

It was make or break time for the Knicks and they chose wisely, executing timely hoops which proved to supply the damage necessary in order to achieve the victory.

Down by three, Knicks guard Iman Shumpert connected on a three-pointer which tied the game at 93-all with 2:06 remaining till the end of regulation.

All the Knicks needed now was a stop: Check.

How about a basket to put the Knicks ahead by someone who was brought here for these moments worth $122 million? Check.

Anthony has provided clutch baskets throughout his career and did not disappoint the Knicks fans in attendance tonight.

Guarded by Hornets forward Marvin Williams, Anthony sank an elbow jumper from the triple-threat position giving the Knicks a 95-93 lead with 1:24 remaining in the fourth.

Game-over.

Other than Anthony's historic night, Amare Stoudemire displayed flashes of his old-self adding 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Larkin also played well contributing nine points, five assists and two steals.

For the Hornets, Walker finished with 16 points while Stephenson compiled 14 points, 8 assists and 9 rebounds, two assists and one rebound away from a triple-double.

If Stephenson can improve his outside shot, he will be scary.

The Knicks shot 50% from the field and totaled 23 assists.

Last year, this would have been a game that the Knicks would have lost without a doubt.

This year's team is much improved.

My biggest takeaway from this game was the coaching.

Knicks Head Coach Derek Fisher has a presence and is pushing the right buttons early on.

No less than 30 seconds off the clock in the 4th quarter and Fisher elects to call a timeout as Hornets center Cody Zeller rose for an uncontested dunk.

Fisher was disgusted with the defense and showed no tolerance for the defensive effort on that play specifically.

That's what the Knicks need.

They need to be held accountable.

All in all, the Knicks are 2-1 and their next opponent is no walk in the park as the Knicks will host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.

That means the explosive exploits of guard John Wall and forward Paul Pierce, Knicks public enemy no.1.

The road gets tougher but for now Anthony is the 40th member of the NBA's 20,000 point club.

Congrats.

VIDEO CONVERSATION: Johnny Manziel, Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Pam Oliver and more

What's The 411Sports Episode 3 featured a discussion of the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers losing season; Phil Jackson coming to New York, Michael Jordan's earnings for 2013; the NFL contemplating allowing the use of medical marijuana; Michael Sam declining an invitation to the White House Correspondents Dinner; who's going to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; and where will Johnny Manziel land in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The featured interview was with Fox Sports Analyst, Pam Oliver. The interview took place at Media Row during the NFL's Super Bowl media week.

What's The 411Sports is hosted by Bianca Peart and Glenn Gilliam.