Advertisement - scroll for more content
JR Smith when Knicks traded him to Cleveland: 'I cried'
JR Smith when Knicks traded him to Cleveland: I ain't going to lie, bro. I cried. I was in Memphis. We were in Memphis. I was working out. We were getting ready for the game and I came back in the locker room and Steve Mills pulled me aside. He's like, ‘Yeah, man. We just traded you and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland.’ And I was just like, ‘Damn, where like, you know, I ain't want to say nothing of him or whatever.’ Because I already had my feelings about him and the situation that we were already in with the new group, new regime, whatever at that time.
Kevin Durant's father pushed him to sign with Knicks in 2019
Kevin Durant’s father met with the Knicks before the fateful 2019 free agency and unsuccessfully tried to convince his son to sign with James Dolan’s team, a new book details. Durant was already set on joining Brooklyn when his father, Wayne Pratt, told him through text about a video conference call with Knicks executives Steve Mills and Scott Perry, according to excerpts from “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” a book on the Nets by author Matt Sullivan.
Durant was upset about the meddling, which was also a tampering violation by the Knicks, and “didn’t want his pops f--king with the plan,” the book stated. Still, Pratt, a Knicks fan and “occasionally estranged” from his superstar son, pushed for Durant to change his mind about the Nets.
“The Knicks is Mecca,” Pratt texted, according to “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” “If you want to do it, do it big. If you want to be a New Yorker, be a Knick.”
Scott Perry to sign extension with Knicks?
Scott Perry signed a one-year contract extension with the New York Knicks in April of 2020 following the departure of Steve Mills and the hiring of Leon Rose. "Scott Perry only got a one-year contract extension," said Brian Windhorst. "I think someone should want to hire him," replied Ramona Shelburne. "I'll get in trouble for saying this because it will get aggregated, but I hear Scott Perry will be around the Knicks longer," said Windhorst. "He will be. I hear it is all going to be worked out."
Advertisement
The Knicks still have another critical hire to make in the front office. Craig Robinson left the organization, a league source confirmed, to take over as the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Robinson had been the Knicks’ VP of player development since 2017, when he was hired by former president Steve Mills.
Craig Robinson, who served as the Knicks' vice president of player development and general manager of the G League’s Westchester Knicks since 2017, has accepted a position as executive director for the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Robinson was not expected to remain with the Knicks, having been brought on by Steve Mills, who was dismissed earlier this year. The contracts of Robinson and most of the front-office personnel are expiring shortly.
The Knicks, after all, have a coaching search to conduct, and throwing a disastrous 2019-20 season in the garbage will be easy. Who wants to remember David Fizdale’s stint, or Steve Mills’ or James Dolan’s issues with arena chants and Spike Lee? Moving forward to the Leon Rose era can’t begin in earnest until he hired his coach. To that end, sources say Tom Thibodeau is the heavy favorite to land the job.
If Steve Mills were still president, Ewing definitely would be a top target. According to an NBA source, Mills reached out to Ewing during the last coaching search in 2018. But Ewing had just finished his rookie season at Georgetown and was not ready to leave yet, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Hence, Ewing wasn’t one of the 11 coaches Mills interviewed.
Zanin essentially takes over for Ellis. Sources said Steve Mills was fired as president after the Kristaps Porzingis trade backfired when the Knicks were unable to use any of their cap space to sign a star player last summer. Sources have indicated Ellis is also taking the fall for that trade which included the disappointing Dennis Smith Jr. In Utah, Perrin is credited for being part of drafting five All-Stars — the latest being Donovan Mitchell. Perrin, according to a source, was instrumental in scoring an early workout with Mitchell even when it was obvious Utah would have to trade up to get him at 13.
Advertisement
Knicks, David Blatt part ways
Marc Berman: Knicks and David Blatt will part ways as his consulting agreement has expired, The Post has learned. He leaves on good terms with new president Leon Rose. Was brought in originally by president Steve Mills, former Princeton teammate.
Ian Begley: David Blatt’s consulting agreement with the Knicks has expired, source says, so he’s no longer with the organization. Source said he left on good terms. Blatt was hired by former NYK President Steve Mills.
Steve Popper: David Blatt will not remain on with the Knicks - source confirms @Marc Berman tweet, hired by Steve Mills as a consultant to transition from coaching to front office. Consulting agreement ended.
According to a source, Craig Robinson, the current Knicks’ vice president of player development, has already had his responsibilities cut. Robinson, who is Michelle Obama’s brother, was hired by his Princeton buddy Steve Mills to oversee a comprehensive player development initiative.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement