The New York Knicks fired Steve Mills in a surprising move Tuesday morning. Mills served as President for the Knicks since July 2017 and spent the previous three years as General Manager. Now, after nearly six years, owner James Dolan will be looking for a new right-hand man.
Steve Mills Fired by New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are a dumpster fire, and the flame burns on.
After firing former head coach David Fizdale earlier in the season, the organization will now be looking to fill its presidential role as well. It has been reported that Dolan is eyeing Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri, though he is under contract through next season. The move would likely have to include compensation — such as a first-round pick — to the Raptors. It is unclear whether Dolan would be willing to pull the trigger on such a deal. Ujiri is most famous — or infamous to his victims — for pulling off the Kawhi Leonard trade that ultimately brought an NBA title to Toronto last season.
Knicks owner Jim Dolan is targeting Toronto president Masai Ujiri to ultimately oversee New York’s operations, league sources tell ESPN. He is under contract through 2020-2021 in Toronto.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
For now, general manager Scott Perry will assume control over basketball operations.
The move comes at a head-scratching time, just days before the 2020 NBA trade deadline. It has been reported that Mills was in talks with several teams involving trades that would immediately improve the state of the New York Knicks. Perhaps Dolan did not approve of any potential moves and sought change before it was too late. Either way, the Knicks have put themselves in a potentially compromising situation as trade rumors heat up across the league.
Steve Mills: "Imma trade for Terry Rozier"
James Dolan:
https://t.co/8tt42dI1l5— Knicks Memes (@KnicksMemes) February 4, 2020
However, it seems unlikely that any move — outside of somehow acquiring LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Jordan from 1991, and prime Shaquille O’Neal — will make any real difference for the Knicks in the near future. The organization has scratched the bottom of the barrel for so long they’ve torn a hole in it.
Perhaps this is the first step to recovery for a franchise starved for success.
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