Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri was immediately identified as the Knicks’ top target to replace Phil Jackson when the Knicks parted ways with Jackson earlier this week, but it appears Ujiri won’t be going anywhere. As Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com writes, the Knicks are no longer expected to ask for the Raptors’ permission to speak to Ujiri.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, one league source said that the Raptors would have asked for multiple draft picks, including a first-rounder, as compensation if the Knicks wanted to hire Ujiri. As such, the team appears to have shifted its focus to David Griffin and other candidates. Shelburne cites sources who say that Griffin has spoken to the Knicks, and is expected to have more discussions when New York moves to the next level of its search process. The club is currently assembling a list of candidates for the job.
Here’s more out of New York:
- An NBA source tells Berman that the Knicks are unlikely to do anything with Carmelo Anthony until a new president of basketball operations is hired.
- Current GM Steve Mills is expected to remain with the team no matter who is hired as president, according to Berman.
- In a separate piece for The New York Post, Berman breaks down the free agency landscape for the Knicks, noting that the team may have more options with Jackson out of the picture.
- According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link), Isiah Thomas isn’t considered a candidate for the Knicks’ job, but still has owner James Dolan‘s ear as an advisor. Kyler adds (via Twitter) that Ujiri and Thunder president Sam Presti were considered “pie-in-the-sky” candidates.
- While the pre-draft Kristaps Porzingis rumors were viewed by some observers as Jackson sending a “message” to the young big man, several members of the organization besides Jackson were in favor of a trade, sources tell Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Still, the possibility of a Porzingis trade will likely die if the team can get back on the same page with him.
- The Knicks have strong interest in bringing back Justin Holiday, and some members of the organization consider George Hill a free agent of interest, according to Begley. Both Begley and Berman also identify P.J. Tucker as a probably free agent target for the club.
Theoretically, a deal for Porzingis could bring back a ton of assets from a team like Phoenix or Boston, but now that Phil Jackson is gone, they finally have a chance to build a team. Although Noah’s deal is going to really hurt that, obviously.
yeah, hiring a new President of Ops and saddling him with the incumbent GM sounds like a spectacular way to go.
How does Isaiah still have Dolan’s ear as an adviser? It must be nice to be so rich that you can waste money on people that don’t deserve it. If there was a championship for hiring the worse possible people to run your franchise Dolan would be the Red Aurbach of that title.
I feel the only need to address during the free agency period is at point guard. Either a) keep Rose on a moderate 2 year contract or b) get Hill on a moderate contract or bring back Galloway. That’s only if they don’t trade Melo. If they do trade Melo, blow up the roster and build around Porzingis, Hernangomez, and Ntilikina. Avoid Teague because he’ll want a near max deal. I feel Jrue Holiday is a better fit for the current roster but reports are indicating that he’ll most likely stay with the Pelicans.
As for President of Basketball Operations go, not sure who to pick up but Jacksons smartest move was to not trade away any of our draft picks so lets keep that mentality and avoid doing so. Keep Hornaceck on the bench he’s a good coach and see about bringing in M. Jackson as a assistant for player development and defense.