With the Knicks unwilling to grant David Griffin final say on basketball decision, it appears very likely that GM Steve Mills will retain some – and possibly full – autonomy on the club’s basketball decisions going forward, writes ESPN’s Ian Begley. Mills is set to run the team at least through this year’s free agent period, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s named the full-time president after that, per Begley.
Marc Berman of The New York Post reiterates that sentiment, noting that no formal negotiations have taken place yet between Mills and the Knicks, but the current GM appears to be on track to becoming the club’s permanent president. As Berman explains, New York figures may continue to conduct interviews, but the club would be on the lookout for a general manager to work under Mills, rather than someone to take over basketball operations.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Following up on the Griffin story, Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News reports that one of the requests made by the former Cavs GM was to remove assistant GM Allan Houston from the front office. The Knicks’ unwillingness to part with Houston or to let Griffin bring in his own staff was one reason why the potential partnership didn’t pan out.
- Currently, Mills is focusing on potentially trading Carmelo Anthony, finding a veteran point guard, and figuring out how to smooth things over with Kristaps Porzingis, according to Begley.
- On the point guard front, the club has remained in touch with Rajon Rondo, and there’s mutual interest there, says Begley. However, the Knicks are out of cap room for the moment, so it’s not clear if Rondo would be willing to settle for the $4.3MM room exception, or if the team is looking to create cap space in order to make a more substantial offer.
- A trade for a veteran point guard is a possibility too, according to Begley, who says New York had “strong” interest in Patrick Beverley before Houston traded him to the Clippers. Begley also mentions Brandon Knight or Eric Bledsoe as possible trade candidates, though there’s no indication the Knicks have talked to Phoenix about those vets.
- No Carmelo deal is imminent, but the Knicks and Anthony “feel good” about getting something done at some point, sources tell Begley. For his part, newly-signed Knick Tim Hardaway said he’d “definitely” like to see Anthony return to the team next season (link via Begley).
Leave Melo
He’ll go to Houston
Why?
Plays no defense
Melo probably could go to any other franchise and it would be a upgrade.
Not sure how much of a fit rondo would be with three guys who need the ball in their hands (THJ, Melo, and Kristaps). Will be interesting to see if they can be effective off the ball if they sign rondo and if rondo fits into Jeff Hornecek’s offense. Could cut into Ntilanka’s minutes as well.
Ntilanka is 18yrs old. That’s why they’re trying to get a vetran PG in to help mentor & use up some minutes. He’s a 3-5yr project that kid.
That’s true, Rondo is a very cerebral player and could be a good mentor.
Rondo is the ideal fit for three guys that need the ball in their hand. He’s a pass first, shoot second point guard.
He’s ‘pass’ first, but he requires the ball in his hands for the majority of the shot clock in order to be effective. Melo and THJ create their shots off the dribble and are ISO players. They can however spot up as well so rondo can set them up.
The NBA offseason has become a game of musical chairs due to the cap situation. Players, like Rondo, who don’t sign quickly could end up on the short end of the stick.
Improve relations with their stud: rehire the coach that was close to him. Low cost solution.
Was it Steve Mills that presented/approved the $71,000,000 contract to Hardaway ?
Yep.
Mills sounds like our man !
Great future for the Knicks !!!
(SMH)
Don’t know alot about Rondo….but there’s much talk about how he’s a bad locker room person/teammate for all his past teams.
True or simply people bashing him for whatever other reason ???
Very true. Plus his game is antiquated
Sounds like an golden opportunity for Steve Mills to start bidding against himself again – to ultimately get a ‘bad fit’ player !
Don’t do this Steve.
You actually think $71M for Hardaway is a smart deal? Yikes – looks desperate to me. Why not keep that cap space then move Carmelo and create more space with all those FA’s available next year. If they got David Griffin and his people he would probably have pushed hard for LaBron and PG or if not maybe Westbrook etc… why waste cap space when you can’t win now with that team. Makes no sense to me. KP is a very good young star but the Knicks need 2 or 3 more of them to be a super team. The Hardaway contract will hurt unless they can move it in a year or so. I don’t get it.
SMH = Shaking My Head…..a type of affirmation of sarcasm.
TY !
Hardaway can easy score 20 points per game just sign Rondo and Len would be perfect for NY
Sure, if he takes 18 or 19 shots per game. Also why would they need another center? They already have KP, Hernangomez and Noah
I’ll pack Melo’s bag and drive him to the airport.
Hernangomez and KP booth for me PF not center and Noah and Len can are booth different of Typ that’s good to go
Rondo
Hardaway
Melo
KP
Noah
Good very good starting 5
Hardaway signing had to be an overpay to get him here and what good is all the cap space when no free agents would be coming here due to the disfunction.
What I don’t understand is if they were gonna buy out Melo than why not take on Ryan Anderson and just buy him out. Tell you the truth I don’t even wanna see Melo go it would be interesting to see what could happen with a coach and organization that had his back. The team last year had talent but the pieces didn’t fit the triangle. Also Derrick Rose personal mess and court situation wasn’t any better.
Noah’s contract where it is outrageous because of the on court production but the intangibles he brings are priceless and that blue collar mentality he brings rubbed off on some of the bench guys namely Hermangomez.
Sad to say but they shoulda traded KP 7 footers with foot problems are not long for the NBA ask Bill Walton & Yao Ming.
Need a veteran PG to mentor the French kid. I don’t know if Rondo would be a good fit but if there are not a lot of options and he was willing to accept a year or 2 I wouldn’t mind them taking a chance. But only if Melo stays if not then we don’t need him bring in a lesser guy to tank next year.