As their trade options dwindle by the day ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, the New York Knicks are bolstering their front office with one of the most prolific executives in making deals.
The Knicks reportedly add former Minnesota Timberwolves president Gersson Rosas as a consultant.
Rosas is set to make his NBA comeback after getting fired before the training camp. His abrupt exit stemmed from an inappropriate relationship with a married co-worker and a strained relationship with his front office.
But setting aside the reasons for his downfall in Minnesota, Rosas was the prime mover behind the Timberwolves rebuild after succeeding Tom Thibodeau.
Ironically, Rosas is joining Thibodeau in the Knicks organization.
Under Rosas’ stewardship in over two seasons, the Timberwolves made 10 trades. The acquisition of D’Angelo Russell from the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins and a future pick that became Jonathan Kuminga was the most prominent Rosas move. He also hired current Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and selected Anthony Edwards as the top overall pick.
Currently, the Timberwolves are enjoying their first winning record since the brief Thibodeau era and are poised to make a playoff run.
NBA insider Marc Stein noted that Rosas is known to have a close relationship with current Knicks president Leon Rose, who never had a prior front office experience.
Rosas joined the Knicks in their current West Coast trip.
Rosas was with the Knicks in Denver last night. Will be with the team in San Francisco as well for Warriors tomorrow https://t.co/uWgLkoHf6O
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) February 9, 2022
Previously, Rosas worked for 16 years with the Houston Rockets in different capacities. Rosas worked his way up and later became the trusted confidant of former Rockets GM Darryl Morey, now Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations. He joined the Rockets organization in 2003, the same year Thibodeau followed Jeff Van Gundy to Houston.
Rosas also served as international player personnel scout for USA Basketball under then-coach Mike Krzyzewski. Thibodeau was one of Krzyzewski’s assistant coaches.
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