Knicks News: Scott Perry ‘in store’ for contract extension next season?
New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry could turn his lame-duck season into a contract extension.
Some New York Knicks fans were surprised to learn newly-hired president Leon Rose would retain general manager Scott Perry through next season. While it has been suggested his role is more than transitional, a new report indicates “if all goes well” Perry could be “in store” for an extension over the next calendar year.
Rose, who gained his stature in NBA circles as a player agent for CAA, has been busy during the coronavirus shutdown. The New Jersey native has hired three new faces for the Knicks front office, including two scouting hires this past week.
The additions of Jazz executive Walt Perrin, who will lead college scouting, and Thunder scout Frank Zanin, who will lead pro scouting, will push out current assistant GM Gerald Madkins and pro player personnel director Harold Ellis, according to the New York Post.
Should the Knicks keep Scott Perry past next season?
It’s difficult for fans to disentangle the influence of Scott Perry on transactions made during the Steve Mills era.
Perry joined the Knicks organization with a blossoming reputation from a short stint with the Sacramento Kings. However, his previous work in Orlando is marked with ups (Victor Oladipo) and downs (Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja). Of course, like in New York, Perry’s role in decision-making in Orlando was part of a broader group led by general manager Rob Hennigan.
The blame for the Knicks recent scouting blunders on players like Dennis Smith Jr. is being placed on the understudies to Perry, rather than on the general manager himself, as explained by the New York Post:
"“Zanin essentially takes over for Ellis. Steve Mills was fired for the Kristaps Porzingis trade backfiring because of the cap space never being used on a star player. Sources have indicated Ellis pushed for disappointing Dennis Smith Jr. to be in the deal.”"
Rose is probably taking the right approach in keeping some continuity in thinking within his first front office. Whether the additions of Perrin and Zanin help Perry make better decisions remains to be seen. But if the results look good after this season, why not keep the band together?
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According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Perrin was a mentor for Perry when they briefly crossed paths working for the Pistons in the early 2000s. That would suggest the two have a good working relationship already.