Reflecting on Scott Perry’s time with the Knicks

Prior to being named general manager of the Sacramento Kings, Scott Perry had spent more than 25 years working in NBA front offices.

Starting under Joe Dumars, he played in Detroit from 2000 to 2008, during which time they won one NBA championship and went to six straight Eastern Conference Finals.

After one short season with now-Thunder GM Sam Presti working for the Seattle Supersonics — where they drafted Kevin Durant second overall — he then returned to the Pistons from 2008-2012.

Scott Perry went on to spend five seasons with the Magic before a brief, approximately three-month stint with the Kings.

Understandably, being named general manager of the prestigious New York Knicks in 2017 took him away from California’s capital until his eventual return last offseason. Given that it was his most recent stop and where he had the most control, what can be learned from Perry’s time in The Big Apple?

Matt George and Kayla Anderson looked back at his resume on Thursday’s edition of The Matt & Kayla Show.

“The first season when Scott was in New York, the Knicks were coming off of a 29-win season,” George outlined. “After his second offseason in New York, the Knicks went on to win 17 games, so they went in the wrong direction. But I think that was very much by design with Scott at that point.”

In the 2018 draft, they selected Kevin Knox at ninth overall, which didn’t turn out great. But getting Mitchell Robinson at 36 looks phenomenal in hindsight.

One year later, landing the third overall pick in the lottery, RJ Barrett was their primary addition.

Even getting to that point required a notable teardown, and moving on from franchise player Carmelo Anthony was the first step. The moves didn’t stop there, as the trade deadline of his second season at the helm (alongside others) was an active one.

“His trade deadline, after a quiet second offseason in New York, he traded Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr, plus a couple other players, to the Dallas Mavericks for DeAndre Jordan, Dennis Smith Jr., who was considered to be the main piece they got back in that young point guard,” George continued. “Dennis Smith Jr had upside at the time. Didn’t really work out.”

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

While some of Perry’s moves didn’t pan out in the way he likely hoped, are there parallels to be drawn to his current situation in Sacramento? De’Aaron Fox was probably the closest equivalent to Anthony, albeit a notably lower-caliber player, and he wasn’t the one to move the franchise guard for Zach LaVine.

Instead, he’s tasked with moving on from LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and potentially Malik Monk while getting younger and gaining financial flexibility.

Nobody would be shocked if they were moved this offseason, or maybe some of them will last up until the trade deadline. Worst-case scenario, none of their contracts extend beyond 2027, a marker that has been highlighted many times by those who cover the Kings.

“Just get to 2027,” Anderson said. “He’s preached that patience point so many times, and that’s the thing, he’s lived it so he knows it can work. Now these are different pieces, and it’s a different time in terms of the NBA. However, it is interesting when you look at how he did it.”

Hitting on their draft pick will be the most crucial piece to this offseason’s puzzle, but Scott Perry has previously shown he’s willing to make tough decisions.

Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.

Listen to The Matt & Kayla Show from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

• Complicated changes to NBA Draft Lottery system could be coming
• NBA Draft Lottery shake-up? What it could mean for the Kings’ rebuild
• Why recent history says the 5th-best Lottery odds may help Sacramento
• Where would Keegan Murray go in a 2022 Re-Draft?

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Sunday, May 10th – NBA Draft Lottery
• Thursday, June 4th– NBA Finals begin
• Thursday, June 25th – NBA Draft (Round 1)
• Friday, June 26th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

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