When the New York Knicks hired super-agent Leon Rose to lead the rebuild of their roster, they knew they’d be getting a man with superior relationships around the league.
Rose, who previously worked with CAA, is expected to be active in overhauling the roster and acquiring big names in the future. Ultimately, star players have been scared away from Madison Square Garden, based on the failures in recent years and the lackluster coaching options that have been appointed.
SNY’s Ian Begley believes Knicks’ GM Leon Rose could be active in the trade market.
“In general, my guess is that Rose and the Knicks will be aggressive in pursuing trades for young, talented players if the opportunity presents itself,” Begley recently wrote. “I’d also guess that the club will have a significant number of veterans on the roster next season, in part, in an effort to surround the younger players with knowledge and experience.”
Aside from free agency, the Knicks are looking forward to the 2021 NBA draft. With reports that LaMelo Ball prefers to land with the Knicks, it all depends on their draft lottery placement. It is unclear whether the Knicks are considering moving up to land Ball, who will be the highest-rated point guard on the board.
To start off Rose’s tenure with the Knicks, he picked up Scott Perry’s option for the 2021 campaign. Interestingly, he elected to keep Perry on board, and I imagine the reasoning is more experience-based then production. He was involved with the training of Kristaps Porzingis for pennies on the dollar, after all. However, learning the ropes and the inside out of the organization is essential for Rose.
Leon Rose has undoubtedly started with a bang
In recent days, Rose has waived Allonzo Trier, a talented player with potential left to be unlocked. That was an interesting move, and the Knicks used the roster spot to snag Theo Pinson, who also was an undrafted player. Focusing on the talent they already have on the roster should be a priority, especially options like RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson, who represent the foundation of their youth agenda. I believe the team will look vastly different after the upcoming off-season, meaning Rose has plenty of work left to do.