Several members of the Knicks organization said this week that they expect president Steve Mills to be replaced at season’s end, or even earlier, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
The report is similar to one issued by Frank Isola of The Athletic last week. Isola suggested that Mills will be reassigned within the organization or let go altogether, but Begley hears from sources that the situation remains fluid. If the Knicks can turn things around this season, it may improve the odds that Mills sticks around, particularly since he still has years left on his contract beyond 2019/20, Begley writes.
The future of general manager Scott Perry is thought to be tied to Mills’ future to some degree, but not entirely. If Mills is dismissed during the season, the belief is that Perry would take over as the head of basketball operations on an interim basis, per Begley.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- The Knicks’ vision for their next head coach is someone who has the “stature and ability” to have success in the New York market, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Team officials want someone who can lean on prior success and experience, which explains why high-profile executives like Masai Ujiri and Sam Presti have been cited as potential targets.
- Marc Berman of The New York Post examines whether Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey might be another target for the Knicks, noting that the Blazers’ exec has strong New York roots. Olshey is happy in Portland, but a person close to him tells Berman that it may not be his last stop. “He’s got full autonomy here to run things as he sees fit and he’s pretty happy with his salary, I think,” that NBA official said. “He’s never going to be a huge fan of retiring in Portland as a city, so maybe this isn’t his final destination. But he’s not a big media guy even if he’s a big-city guy in some ways.”
- According to Shams Charania, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Tom Thibodeau are among the names on the Knicks’ current head coaching wish list. Ian Begley agrees that Jackson has support within the franchise, adding that Jason Kidd is someone else who has organizational support.
- Carmelo Anthony, who spent seven-and-a-half seasons with the Knicks, is holding out hope that the team will retire his number, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. “I think anybody would want that, if you have the opportunity to get that,” Anthony said. “We’ll see what happens when that time comes. Hopefully, they hang No. 7 up there somewhere. We’ll see what happens.”
Nobody of substance will want any part of the Knicks if Mills is still employed. He and Isaiah Thomas must be removed From all part of Knicks Brain trust.Perry must go too guilt by association
Let Rick Pitino run the hole show from top to bottom.
Ridiculous to think any of these top executives are going to leave their great current jobs to go to the Knicks. They had to pay Phil 12 million a year to be a first time executive.
“If the Knicks can turn things around this season…”
Thanks for the laugh!
So they want a HC with “stature and ability” to report to Scott Perry, who has accomplished nothing except getting hired.
Well what else would Thibs be doing.
Who are the Knick team officials being surveyed on preferences for team presidents and/or head coaches? Are any of them going to be around to have input into the choices? I assume Mills and Perry, and their entourages, won’t be. Dolan has to hire the team president. After that, it’s the team president (not anyone currently with the organization) that will make the decision on the head coach.
I’m still holding out hope the Knicks retire my jersey, too. Good luck to both of us, Carmelo.