After the first half of play against the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry was reportedly upset at the team’s poor play.
The New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 112-107 behind Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 34 points. Though the Knicks claimed victory, their general manager was not impressed by their first-half performance.
General manager Scott Perry joined the team on their two-game road trip, with a Saturday matinée against the Toronto Raptors to close it out.
According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, Perry was visibly upset by New York giving up 57 points to the Hawks in the first half. So while player development may be the organization’s perceived mindset, they want to remain competitive.
Knicks GM Scott Perry is on the road with the team. An eye witness said Perry was visibly upset during portions of the first half in Atlanta. The Knicks gave up 57 points to the Hawks and trailed by three after two quarters. Doesn't seem like Perry has any interest in tanking.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 8, 2018
During the Knicks town hall meeting, head coach David Fizdale spoke on the front office’s plan for 2018-19 and said Perry told him they will never tank a season to an array of applause from the fans in attendance.
While winning basketball games is something that all fans desire, it may not serve the Knicks well into the future.
Outside of Allonzo Trier, both Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox played under 15 minutes against one of the worst teams in basketball. While Knox is coming off an ankle injury that cost him seven games, he needs to play more than the seven minutes he averaged the last two games.
Winning basketball games and developing young talent are not mutually exclusive. Will the Knicks free up minutes for the young kids at the trade deadline?
Kevin Knox has returned for the @nyknicks! #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/QfmrXGia6R
— NBA (@NBA) November 6, 2018
On Feb. 7, the Knicks will have to make decisions on key members of their team. Enes Kanter, Courtney Lee, and Hardaway are players that could have their exit from the team come the trade deadline.
Hardaway is playing the best basketball of his career and could fetch a decent return if traded at the deadline. If one or all these players are moved, the Knicks will obviously take a significant step back on the offensive end of the floor.
It is a difficult decision to make; not to mention the abundance of talent available in the upcoming draft. Win now may cost the Knicks the chance to win in the future.