National Basketball Association

Knicks hire ex-Nuggets GM Warkentien

Published Jan. 31, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The New York Knicks were preparing to confirm the hiring of former Denver Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien as a top consultant, the New York Post reported Monday.

The move saw Warkentien, whose four-year association with Denver ended last August, quickly touted as a possible key player in New York's pursuit of Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony.

The 57 year old's new agent, William Wesley, is a close associate of Anthony's representative Leon Rose, a relationship that could strengthen moves to bring the small forward to Madison Square Garden.

Anthony, who played in Sunday night's defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers, praised the potential appointment after learning of the move after the game.

"Did they?" Anthony said upon hearing the news. "[Is that] surprising? Yeah. As far as I am concerned, I guess that's a great addition to that organization."