Knicks Governor James Dolan Sets The Record Straight After Rumors He Could Sell The Team

The New York Knicks appear to finally be on the come-up after years in the dark ages. With R.J. Barrett, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson, they have a solid foundation of core players they can build around for years to come.

But while the Knicks have made great progress on the road to respectability, their governor (James Dolan) is still viewed as a controversial figure amongst NBA circles.

Recently, rumors have surfaced that Dolan was considering selling the team amid growing pressure from the community. 

As it turns out, he's not going anywhere and actually confirmed this week that he has no plans to give up his stake in the team.

(via ESPN's Tim Bontemps)

“I have no plans whatsoever to sell at this point. I’m not retiring anytime soon. It’s a family controlled asset, so someone in the family will own it.”

Dolan has not been described as a good owner over his tenure. His reckless and questionable decision-making in the past has held back the franchise in a major way.

Recently, though, Dolan has mostly stayed out of the way, and it could be why the Knicks are finally starting to flourish. With one or two more moves, they could become a real threat to win the East.

The question is, which players could take them over the top?

Knicks Watching Zach LaVine Ahead Of NBA Trade Deadline

One player that has emerged as a serious trade candidate for the Knicks is wing star Zach LaVine, who is having an up-and-down year with the Bulls.

The Knicks are among several teams showing interest in the young swingman, but he's someone who might be worth a premium package.

If the Chicago Bulls make Zach LaVine available before the trade deadline, rival executives are keeping an eye on several teams who could have interest in trading for him, including the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat.

Whatever the Knicks decide to do, it's clear this roster as-is is not good enough to win a title. They will need to bring in more talent, and Dolan will have to help get them there one way or another.

As long as he continues to stay under the radar and lets the process play out, things could finally start looking up for the franchise.