Former New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry will be using his basketball mind as an NBA analyst for ESPN with the season set to commence tomorrow, Oct. 25.
Former Knicks GM Knows What it Takes to Build a Playoff-Caliber Team
SNY’s Ian Begley relayed the news involving the network’s new hire via Twitter:
Perry was hired by Knicks owner James Dolan to take over management of the franchise in the summer of 2017. Perry inherited a Knicks franchise that was on the downswing, having missed the playoffs in four straight seasons.
One of Perry’s first moves at the helm of the front office was fulfilling Carmelo Anthony’s trade request and shipping the franchise player to the Oklahoma City Thunder a month before the season began. He also made the tough decision to move Kristaps Porzingis following his ACL tear and dealt the All-Star power forward to the Dallas Mavericks midway through the 2018-19 campaign.
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The Knicks took time to return to playoff relevancy under Perry. His investment in Julius Randle was a success with Randle being named the 2021 Most Improved Player of the Year and blossoming into an All-Star. He also brought in point guard Jalen Brunson who, in tandem with Randle, has made the Knicks a serious playoff contender over the last three years.
Perry’s notable draft selections include RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and a draft-day trade for Quentin Grimes in 2018 that has worked wonders for the franchise. All three have been instrumental in their roles for the Knicks.
ESPN Rebuilding After A Series of Layoffs
ESPN does not look the same after a summer of massive changes. The television network let go of several big names including Jalen Rose, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy. Stephen A. Smith even joked about his status with ESPN being up in the air despite being the cash cow of the network.
Perry will bring his expertise from his time with the Knicks, as well as executive roles with the Detroit Pistons, Seattle SuperSonics, Orlando Magic, and Sacramento Kings, and a head coaching stint at Eastern Kentucky University to the analytical table.
