nychamp wrote:What I know is what I posted. He's been a bystander who's gone along with Dolan, Thomas, Jackson and whoever else was making basketball decisions and not a difference making prime mover type guy. And he signed Hardaway to a not great deal when he was in a position to do that kind of thing. You wanna tell me he's a mean operations guy, runs an arena like no other, fine I'm willing to believe that. But that isn't building a winning team. Are we talking business or winning basketball? I have no interest in the former with respect to the Knicks, I just care about the quality of the team.Are you privy to the Knick brass's decision making process and know how Mills is integral to the on court success of the team? If so, please enlighten. I'm just a regular guy who watches the games and follows the sport, just like most everybody here I think. All of us are making assumptions about who does what behind the scenes, no?
I'm not trying to trash Mills, I'm just saying if there's a new regime it ain't him it must be Perry.
First off if he had different role at different times and was not in a position of influence on personnel decisions then there is not a single constant. His what many of us freaks have read is his only time flying solo was Oct 2013 until say February of 2014 when Phil was hired. Then Briefly in JUly to august two years ago when he signed Hardaway. Despite the popular notion this was a cap franchise killing move the guy was not that bad nor his contract that awful. It’s all been discussed at length.
Mills played professional basketball in Ecuador for a year.[2] He worked for the National Basketball Association for sixteen years beginning in 1984 after having worked at Chemical Bank. Mills ascension while at the NBA was notable. He was an account executive in the corporate sponsorship department of NBA properties and program manager for NBA properties. He became vice-president of special events, after which he was senior vice-president of Basketball and Player Development,[3] Mills then became Chief operating officer and Sports Business President of Madison Square Garden in 2003.[4] His duties at MSG included supervising day-to-day operations, including finances, business strategies of the NBA's New York Knicks, NHL's New York Rangers and the WNBA's New York Liberty. All sports related activities were under his jurisdiction, including boxing, college basketball and track & field.In 2009, Mills left MSG and joined Magic Johnson Enterprises where he helped create the Athletes & Entertainers Wealth Management Group, LLC (A&E).[5] of which he was a partner.[6]
On September 26, 2013, the New York Knicks announced Mills would be the executive vice president and general manager of the organization.[7]
On July 14, 2017, after announcing that Scott Perry would become the Knicks' newest general manager, the Knicks also announced Mills would be the new president of the organization, replacing the role that was previously held by Phil Jackson.
He came in at the end of the Layden era and left before Isiah.
While nobody is absolving the teams lack of success or trying to rewrite history, it stands to reason the one quesion: “WHY FAITH”?
Simple, the process is changing and MIlls is hiring the right people. Nobody said it was guaranteed.
Bringing in new people might work but its an open concept. The assets, picks, cap space etc doe not change at that moment. Knicks might not walk out with the big summer we had hoped but every single important FA will hear us. That itself is very different than any time in the last 20 some odd years. We in the game. No chance unless your at least in the game.
Mills influence prior to his presidency has been over estimated and the flashpoint for fans needed a figure to blame. The sole architect of that pain has been Dolan inept management. He signs the checks and decides the direction of the team. Donnie could not add staff yet we blame him for a 100mm contract to Amare? Well noted Dolan jumped and took over negotiating with Denver for Melo.
Can we lame Mills for Durants heal? For Kyries flakiness?, 14.5% odds of Zion?, and Dolans pettiness to the media? Only question of character I see is why the hell he works for this arsehole!!
Knicks are about to embark on just the second off season for Perry and are controlling what they can control which is put the franchise in a position to succeed. KP for all the reasons we know was a huge setback. Teams need at least one organically grown star to pair with others gotten either by FA or draft. Boston had Pierce, Miami had Wade, GSW grew three THEN added Durant. BUlls Drafted core Jordan and Pippen, Lakers traded Divac for rights to draft Kobe. Then they bought in Shaq. Toronto had Derozen to make deal for Kawhi. Amare had one good season which ended with his back and grudge against a fire extinguisher. The trade for melo itself was not horrible but we reduced other opportunities to organically grow that desired core star player.
Not to say this is the only formula to contend, but its pretty obvious its a good path.
Core potential is Mitch, Knox and RJ. Neither is surefire to happen. But its three more than we had a few years ago.
6/24/2019 12:54 PM
