NBA to Investigate Knicks’ Illegal Workout Allegations

The League moved quickly once the report came out, and says they’ll take a close look at the Knicks’ ways of doing business with potential draft picks. From the NY Post: “The stain of the Isiah Thomas reign continues. On the eve of the Knicks’ season opener, the NBA said it is investigating reported allegations team brass staged illegal workouts with draft prospects, including Wilson Chandler, across the past four years — a probe centering on East Coast scout Rodney Heard and senior VP Glen Grunwald. Both are Thomas hires who still work for the club. If found guilty, the Knicks could face fines, suspensions — and at its harshest — loss of a future draft pick. It also could put the status of Heard and — more importantly — Grunwald into question. Team president Donnie Walsh admits he has looked to hire Chris Mullin as general manager but says he does not have a opening because of Grunwald’s spot. If the NBA finds allegations true, it also could mean Thomas’ chances of rejoining the Knicks in a prominent role will be compromised. Some of the alleged violations also occurred during Walsh’s watch. According to a Yahoo! Sports report, during the Thomas era, Heard staged allegedly improper workouts in Atlanta with Brandon Rush and Chandler in 2007 weeks before the pre-draft camp in late May. Teams cannot stage workouts with college players until after the pre-draft camp. An NBA spokesman said in an e-mail, ‘We will be investigating these allegations.'”