The Knicks have hired former Cavaliers head coach David Blatt as a basketball operations consultant, the team announced today in a press release. According to a statement from president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry, Blatt will be involved with the Knicks’ G League team and the organization’s international scouting.
Blatt, who coached the Cavaliers to an 83-40 record (.675) from 2014-16, most recently served as the head coach of Greek team Olympiacos. However, he parted ways with the franchise in October after having been diagnosed earlier this year with multiple sclerosis.
In his own statement relayed by the Knicks, Blatt indicated that Olympiacos job will end up being his last as a head coach.
“I look forward to the next step in my career as I officially retire from coaching and pursue other opportunities in basketball,” Blatt said. “I’ve long been intrigued by working in a front office and thank Steve and Scott for the opportunity to be a resource to the basketball operations staff.”
Blatt, 60, also served as the head coach of Turkey’s Darussafaka, Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, and several other clubs over the course of his lengthy career. He has a close relationship with Mills, as the two men were teammates at Princeton from 1978-81. Mills is believed to be on the hot seat in New York, so it’s worth noting that he’s still being permitted to make front office hires.
Someone being hired by Mills/Perry, to consult with Mills/Perry, and having (just like Mills/Perry) no prior experience at his current position. It’s a little hard to believe. What exactly do Mills/Perry have to do to lose their jobs, or least have their hiring powers shut down?
How does one gain experience if he’s never given an opportunity?
Didn’t realize people were just born with titles and experience
Generally, to get a first crack at any significant position (without a track record in it), you have to excel at one of the significant positions immediately below it (or something translatable).
As to Blatt, he’s being hired into a FO as a consultant. The point is not that he lacks experience as a FO consultant, but that he lacks experience at any FO position. People generally consult as to what they’ve done.
While lack of prior experience has been an issue with knicks organisational hires, all the way up to dolan, consulting isnt really a good example of where to make your stand. Making money to consult someone is a very vague job description even when you limit it to a field like scouting or basketball.
I actually think Blatt is one of the more qualified candidates this group has hired tbh
That could be true even if it’s bad hire.
I don’t think it’s a bad hire. International scouting for a guy who just coached in Greece seems to make sense to me.
I heard Greece has some great PFs the Knicks might be interested in!
I really believe the Knicks aren’t as bad as their record shows. Coach Miller is doing a great job right now looking to win than becoming friendly with players. I’m impressed so far. Also I don’t think Julius Randle is given much respect which I think he deserves. I’ve read that he never passes the ball but yet he’s averaging more than 3 assists per game and plays are called for him to score in the post which is his strength