New York Knicks: 5 reasons to be excited about Walt Perrin
2) Donovan Mitchell, anyone?
It seems the Knicks have been linked to local product Donovan Mitchell since his first few months in the league. Drafted 13th overall in the 2017 NBA draft, five picks after the Phil Jackson front office selected Frank Ntilikina, Mitchell quickly turned into a star in the league.
Perrin is credited for scouting Mitchell and convincing the Utah front office to select him.
In talking about how Mitchell got on his radar, Perrin said he is “close friends” with a few agents around the league, including Mitchell’s agent Ty Sullivan. In talking to Sullivan, Perrin got a first look at Mitchell during a pre-draft workout, and the rest is history.
Walt Perrin is “pretty good friends” with Donovan Mitchell’s agent Ty Sullivan, which led to him working him out before the Jazz drafted him
— Daily Knicks (@DailyKnicksFS) May 18, 2020
Sullivan also represents Elfrid Payton
🎥 @kslsports pic.twitter.com/lCt4BKXl7p
Mitchell’s name circulated in trade rumors after teammate Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Before learning of his diagnosis, Gobert put his teammates at risk with a cavalier attitude about the potential spread of the novel coronavirus. Both Mitchell and his father, who works for the New York Mets, ended up testing positive for the virus.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for the coronavirus, league sources tell ESPN. Jazz players privately say that Rudy Gobert had been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings. Now a Jazz teammate has tested positive.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
While the two are supposedly ready to move forward and put the ordeal behind them, with Perrin in New York, expect trade rumors to pick up steam again. And perhaps the added push of Perrin will get a deal done.