After a few disappointing seasons, the New York Knicks' owner James Dolan fired their former President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Phil Jackson this offseason. The Knicks had been one of the worst managed organizations in the NBA for a few seasons now even though the team has a superstar in Carmelo Anthony and rising star Kristaps Porzingis.
In July, reports surfaced about the Knicks hiring Scott Perry to be their next General Manager. Previously, the Sacramento Kings hired Perry to serve as their vice president of basketball operations this offseason.
New York Knicks 2016-2017 NBA season
The New York Knicks had another disappointing season finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 31-51. The Knicks ranked 18th in the NBA in offense and 26th in defense. New York was led by head coach Jeff Hornacek, superstar forward Carmelo Anthony and second-year rising star Kristaps Porzingis.
Carmelo Anthony averaged 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game last season. Anthony is a 14-year NBA veteran. He is a 10-time All-Star, a 6-time All-NBA team member, a member of the 2003-2004 All-Rookie team, and the 2012-2013 NBA Scoring Champion.
Second-year rising star Kristaps Porzingis is a member of the 2015-2016 All-Rookie team.
He averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game in the past season.
Who is Scott Perry?
Scott Perry has spent the last 30 years of his life in basketball, he was a 13-year college head coach, and he also spent 17 years in the NBA. Perry was a front office executive for the Detroit Pistons; he helped the Pistons build a roster that went to six straight Eastern Conference Finals where they won two Eastern Conference titles and the 2004 NBA championship.
He then spent the next season as an assistant General Manager for the then-Seattle Supersonics, now Oklahoma City Thunder. He was part of the front office that picked Kevin Durant second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. Perry returned to Detroit in 2008 to become the vice president of basketball operations, and he stayed with the Pistons until 2012.
On June of 2012, Scott Perry was hired by the Orlando Magic as a vice president and assistant for Magic's General Manager Rob Hennigan. Perry helped Orlando draft Victor Oladipo in 2013, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton in 2014 and Mario Hezonja in 2015.
Just this offseason, the Sacramento Kings hired him as the vice president of basketball operations before he was hired by the Knicks to replace legendary head coach Phil Jackson.
The Knicks hiring Perry is a breath of fresh air for New York's fans, New York is known for hiring executives based on the 'names' rather than their merit. Scott Perry is surely going to have his hands full this season as rumors and speculations continue to swirl around Carmelo Anthony and his future with the Knicks.
