Leon Rose will be faced with plenty of important decisions as he takes over as president of basketball operations for the Knicks, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. The first priority will be to sort out the front office. Many of the executives and scouts brought in by general manager Scott Perry and former team president Steve Mills are expected to be replaced, Popper states. Even though Rose has relationships with several of them through his time as an agent, a source tells Popper that a “house-cleaning” could be on the way.
Perry’s future is also in doubt, even though he has been running the team since Mills was fired four weeks ago. Popper notes that Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas has been mentioned as a possible target for the new front office, with the Raptors‘ Bobby Webster and the Clippers‘ Mike Winger also among the potential executives of interest. Members of Rose’s CAA agency might be brought in to help with scouting ahead of the draft.
In the coaching search, Popper expects Tom Thibodeau and Jeff Van Gundy to be among the biggest names under consideration. Interim coach Mike Miller may be offered a chance to remain with the team as an assistant. The Knicks could also be active on the trade market with six free agents who signed last summer holding small guarantees for 2020/21.
There’s more from New York:
- A report on Wednesday indicated that today would officially be Rose’s first day on the job in New York, but Frank Isola of The Athletic says (via Twitter) that will actually happen on Monday. Isola contends (via Twitter) that Rose will have to get the front office under control, since the “jockeying, maneuvering and backstabbing is at an all-time high.”
- The hiring of Rose provides a perfect opportunity to bring Carmelo Anthony back to the organization, contends George Willis of The New York Post. Anthony remains popular in New York and could provide a valuable veteran presence for the team’s young core, Willis states. Rose served as Carmelo’s agent at CAA.
- Although Mitchell Robinson is putting up the best numbers of his career, the Knicks have no plans to move him into the starting lineup, relays Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Robinson is averaging 14.0 PPG and shooting 81% over his last seven games. Still, Miller wants to keep him in a reserve role behind Taj Gibson. “Taj has gotten us off to great starts,” Miller said. “Sometimes it’s a matchup… But for the most part it’s because Mitchell is so effective in the role that he’s playing. We just haven’t been put in a situation where we think it’s time to change it.”
- Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic examines the Knicks’ unusual philosophy on player development and questions whether it’s wise to continue, considering the results.
How many more days until the draft lottery so the Knicks get unlucky again? GS wins lottery
I mean why truly develop your “core pieces” that just seems dumb. Just play the guys that are closer to retirement, FAs to be, or will be cut next season.
The knicks be treating mitchell robinson like the cubs treated kris bryant. They afraid to let him play and blow up so they dont have to pay him or what?
Why in the world would the Knicks want to sign Carmelo Anthony? Why would anyone in reality?
But he has been so great in Portland, hasn’t he?
Indeed he has, finally you can see that all the that didn’t do well in Houston are doing well away, Chriss, DH12, Melo… Looks like the problem might be Houston not the players.
& CP3 I forgot about him!
Rockets fans scapegoated Josh Smith as well. The problem has always been the Rockets.
Fire Perry, no Melo please. The worst mentor u can have. We need to go forward not backwards. No JVG, Thibs I’m ok with. But we must all be in agreement. This is a rebuild. And u have to commit to Randle or not. As part of offense. He gives you solid stats. Needs to play better D. Best to have a 3 who can shoot next to him. Cause Randle can take 4s off the dribble. They should sign Howard to mentor Mitch. Play D and reb. Howard can retire here. Help build a winner. Can sign him fair money. Must decide on Knox, Frank, DSJ. I move them all. Not meant for NYC. Halliburton is the PG we need. He n Payton is a solid combo. Give him a yr and he will start. He is a big PG like Payton. With better offense plays both ways. Like him a lot. This draft is huge for us. Good 3 of top 35 picks. There are plenty of solid 4s and shooters. I would sign Gallinari. And keep rebuilding with good picks. Halliburton, Howard, Gallinari get us playoffs. We are still young and rebuilding. Do not mess up this draft. I would even trade up for Okoro. Future SF. Most important moves this Organization makes. Will be the Draft. With Dallas picks n ours. We can get Okoro n Halliburton. IMO that’s two future all stars. Knox, DSJ, Frank can also be used. There time here is UP.
Why is Mark Jackson not being mentioned to come back to NYC. Knicks should go hard after Beal. They haven’t had a legitimate shooter since Allan Houston
Randle and beal qould be good pieces.
in the words of Andre Iguodala, Mark Jackson is being blackballed.
Saying the Knicks haven’t had a shooter since Allan Houston is ridiculous. They had Jamal Crawford.
Knicks lose 122-106