The Knicks have hired William Wesley – also known as “World Wide Wes” – as an executive vice president and senior basketball advisor, the team announced today in a press release. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported that the move was imminent.
As Wojnarowski details, Wesley is considered one of the most well-connected people in basketball and has previously worked with new Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose at CAA. Wesley has been a consultant in the coaching division of CAA for 13 years, Woj notes.
“My long history with and respect for (Knicks owner) Jim Dolan and Leon Rose, as well as the chance to be part of the New York Knicks, made this an opportunity I wanted to pursue,” Wesley said in a statement. “I look forward to joining the current staff and moving the organization toward a successful future.”
When word first broke that New York was hiring Rose to lead its basketball operations department, there was speculation that Wesley would join him. A subsequent report from Shams Charania suggested that World Wide Wes wouldn’t actually join the Knicks in a formal capacity, but it appears the two sides have had a change of heart on that.
Meanwhile, Marc Berman of The New York Post speculates (via Twitter) that Wesley’s hiring is a good sign for Tom Thibodeau‘s candidacy for the Knicks’ head coaching vacancy, given the long-standing relationship between Thibodeau and World Wide Wes.
The Knicks also announced that Alex Kline and TJ Zanin have been hired as scouts. Kline’s deal was previously reported. Zanin has worked for the Grizzlies, Sixers, Clippers, Nets, and Hornets in the past, serving as Charlotte’s director of college scouting from 2015-17. His brother Frank Zanin recently joined the Knicks as an assistant GM.
Has anyone compiled a list of coaching candidates rated by friendship points?
I can’t imagine a worse reason to hire a coach but since it’s one of the most often mentioned reasons for a potential hire it must be a more significant factor than I realized.
Championship Warriors focus on Small Ball
Rockets focus on Micro Ball
Knicks focus on staff
Now hiring coach Cal
Let’s say Knicks have 5th and 25th picks
Are they going to trade up？
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Ball is youngest player in first round mock draft
Rose has been busy, and seems to know who he wants. Time will tell what the final FO product will looks like, but I’m given pause by his failure to put in a strong basketball man as his #2 (GM) as part of his FO foundation, and build the rest with that guy. There has also been little in the way of firing, although that might be best done after the draft. Perry staying is not a problem in and of itself, but his people have to go after the draft. Keeping the remnants of the prior regime around has been a Knick FO tradition, and not a good one.
Will the Knicks trade down？
Last year Pelicans trade 4 for 8 and 16
Vassell at 8
Cole at 16
Ian Begley said don’t count out John Calipari for the Knicks coaching job