New York Knicks: 5 reasons to be excited about Walt Perrin

Usually the hiring of an assistant GM is met with a golf clap, but New York Knicks fans should be excited about Walt Perrin joining the front office.

The New York Knicks are reportedly hiring former Utah Jazz scouting expert Walt Perrin to join their front office as assistant general manager and head of college scouting. The timing of the move is important, as the Knicks try to prepare for the 2020 NBA draft after an abbreviated scouting season.

While the NBA has postponed the draft lottery and combine, there has been no word yet on what will happen to the actual draft, which is scheduled to be held on June 25, 2020. Obviously that date will eventually change. The league is hoping to finish the 2019-20 regular season, perhaps restarting in late June or early July.

The hiring of Perrin came as a surprise on Monday. There hasn’t been many rumors about the Knicks continuing their search for new front office blood. In fact, it seemed everything was on pause during the coronavirus shutdown.

However, despite the slowdown in on-court activity, Leon Rose is keeping the wheels turning at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks decided to keep Scott Perry for at least one more season, since his option was up on May 1. They also hired cap specialist Brock Aller.

Perrin brings an impressive resume to New York, having spent the past 19 years building up the Utah Jazz franchise by identifying young talent from Gordon Hayward to Rudy Gobert to Donovan Mitchell.

As the hiring of Perrin was met with widespread praise from pundits across the NBA social media landscape, there are several reasons for Knicks fans to be excited about the new hire.