Knicks Ready To Hire Former Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien

Read More: mark warkentien, Carmelo Anthony (F - NYK), Allen Iverson (G - PHI), Chauncey Billups (G - LAC), New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets

According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the New York Knicks have reached an agreement to hire former Denver Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien. This is a move that should play a large part in the Knicks' pursuit of Carmelo Anthony. Though his role has yet to be specifically defined, for now he is a consultant to Knicks team president Donnie Walsh and will help with scouting both college and the league.

Warkentien joined the Denver Nuggets in 2005 as the director of player personnel and was then elevated to Vice President of Basketball Operations for the team on Sept. 7, 2006. For the 2008-2009 season, Warkentien received the NBA Executive of the Year award for building a Nuggets team that finished 54-28 and reached the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Early on in that season, Warkentien traded Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups.

In August 2010, then-Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke decided not to renew Warkentien's contract and elevated his son, Josh, and new general manager Masai Ujiri to head the team.

Warkentien was known to have a strong relationship with Carmelo Anthony, which should only increase Melo's desire to play for the Knicks.