The New York Knicks fired president of basketball operations Steve Mills on Tuesday, and many believe they will have a difficult time finding a reputable candidate to replace him. According to one NBA insider, there should be plenty of interest in the job if the Knicks look in the right places.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said the thought of running the Knicks’ basketball operations department is still one that appeals to some of the “very, very best executives in the NBA” despite the team’s recent struggles. However, Wojnarowski notes that Knicks owner James Dolan has never pursued those candidates.
Discussing the Knicks President/GM job with @notthefakeSVP pic.twitter.com/OTeN4fWCUu
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2020
“He has never gone out on the market and said, ‘Who’s the best executive in the league? Can I get him,'” Woj said. “He has not done that the last several times (the job) has been open.”
Dolan’s dream scenario would supposedly be hiring Masai Ujiri away from the Toronto Raptors, but Ujiri is under contract through next season. The Knicks may not want to wait until this offseason to fill their vacant front office position, let alone be in limbo for more than a year.
One option for the Knicks would be mimicking what the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers have done with their front offices, and one candidate who reportedly has interest in the job fits the bill. The Knicks should have options despite being on track to miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year.
