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New York is parting ways with President Steve Mills, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
In two months the Knicks have now canned their head coach and team president. General manager Scott Perry sounds safe for now, though presumably whoever is hired as the next head of the franchise will have carte blanche to replace him with themselves or anyone else they please. As far as who might be hired next:
Things can always change, but it’s worth noting that Masai Ujiri has told confidants in the past that he’d be open to considering the Knicks job if the circumstance was right. New York would obviously have to compensate Toronto in order to hire Ujiri. https://t.co/0f4yI0Fs1I
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 4, 2020
So Mills, the Herb Williams of Knick executives, is out, after serving in business and finance for the Garden from 2003-2009, the figurehead general manager under Phil Jackson and the team president since Phil left for that big sky state in the sky.
It’s possible Mills is experiencing a bit of what he served to Fizdale in December, in which case, I mean...karma’s a B:
Earlier today, Steve Mills was spotted leaving MSG highly upset. If true, there could be any number of reasons he would've been upset. Seems odd to be called into the office on a Sunday and even more odd on Superbowl Sunday. Unless, its urgent. #knicks
— What's Poppin?! (@nothinbutknicks) February 2, 2020
There are other tea leaves to muddle through. Does dismissing Mills, the only holdover from the front office that drafted Frank Ntilikina, mean our handsomest son is next to go? What finally led Dolan to lose faith in Mills to the point that he’d fire him right before the trade deadline? Does Perry have ideas of his own that may have differed from his immediate boss? Does Perry have the freedom to move on those moves if they’re available?
We’ll update this story as details emerge. Have a feeling details will be emerging for a while.
UPDATE (1:47 p.m.)
Told you Mills is Herb Williams.
MILLS ISNT EVEN REALLY GETTING FIRED pic.twitter.com/8YlyipUWFd
— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) February 4, 2020
And Perry is the new don.
Scott Perry has taken over basketball operations in New York for fired Steve Mills, league source tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. https://t.co/kk6j1x8Odh
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2020
UPDATE (2:13 p.m.)
Sounds like Mills was against trading Marcus Morris, so now that he’s out that could be a happening?
Just yesterday, Steve Mills was on the phone trying to negotiate trades for the Knicks, including a pursuit for Golden State's D'Angelo Russell, league sources tell ESPN. Ownership pushed to change course on plans to forgo trade talks for Marcus Morris, too. He's available now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
UPDATE (2:45 p.m.)
Looks like Creative Artists Agency’s finest could be in consideration for the head job now, too. Both JR and Chris Smith are free agents, I hear!
CAA's Austin Brown is among those being given internal consideration for the Knicks' presidency opening, per SNY sources.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 4, 2020