The team president for the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh, has presided over the basketball team as it has quickly rebuilt from an embarrassment to a playoff team, but his contract expires June 30. Why hasn't ownership locked him up for three more years, after he jettisoned a few awful contracts, cunningly moved some pieces around to get the team poised for improvement, then signed Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Chauncey Billups? Were the owners upset that Walsh didn't land James LeBron?

Many fans have faith in Walsh, expecting him to sign a superstar to complete the lineup, expecting him to choose a new general to run the point when the NBA draft occurs on June 23. Surely the draft won't be one of the last things Walsh does for the Knicks.

Walsh attend the NBA draft camp in Chicago and reportedly acted as though he were a permanent member of the Knicks organization. But when asked when he would sign a new contract, he deflected the question. A Knicks spokesman recently commented, We have nothing planned right now.

It's not just a mystery that bothers fans. It's a needless distraction that might complicate the team's efforts to land that last piece of the puzzle the Knicks need to not just reach the playoffs, but become contenders.

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