The Knicks have "reached an agreement in principle on a deal" with Kings Exec VP/Basketball Operations Scott Perry to make him the franchise's new GM, according to sources cited by Wojnarowski & Begley of ESPN.com. Consummation of the hiring is pending the Knicks and Kings "arriving at terms on compensation," as the teams have been "wrangling over a financial arrangement." Perry would "report to Steve Mills, who will be elevated" to Knicks President. Sources indicated that Mills "will hold ultimate authority in the front office," while Perry "will be afforded tremendous freedom to operate as he chooses." He will be the "day-to-day voice running the basketball side." Sources said that the Knicks have been "searching for a GM who won't push for an overhaul of the front-office staff," as well as an executive who can "coexist with Mills" (ESPN.com, 7/13). In N.Y., Marc Berman reports the Knicks have "courted Perry for more than a week" with Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke "gathering a pool of candidates as head of the search." Now it will "be a Mills-Perry connection and perhaps Allan Houston promoted back to his assistant GM role" (N.Y. POST, 7/14).
READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT: In N.Y., Stefan Bondy writes Perry may not have much name recognition, but he "does hold an extensive -- and largely promising -- resume as an NBA executive." He was "part of the Pistons front-office team that assembled" the team that won the NBA title in '04. He also has worked for the Sonics and Magic before being hired by the Kings "just before the club was widely praised" for its '17 Draft and free agency. However, he has "never held the top GM job" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/14). On Long Island, Al Iannazzone notes Perry, "considered a good talent evaluator," had a "hand in what many believe has been a very good offseason for the Kings." They added G De’Aaron Fox, F Justin Jackson, C Harry Giles and G Frank Mason III in the Draft, then signed free agents G George Hill, F Zach Randolph and G Vince Carter (NEWSDAY, 7/14). In Sacramento, Jason Jones notes Perry has been "credited around the league" for giving the Kings' front office "much-needed credibility" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/14).
WILL THINGS ACTUALLY CHANGE? In N.Y., Frank Isola writes the "question now is how much power will Perry have to run the team." Isola: "Will Mills and those close to him allow Perry to perform his job or is Perry there just to provide cover for them?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/14). NBC Sports Bay Area's Kelli Johnson asked, "Is this really a dream job in that you're coming in as the No. 2 guy and you have no control, no power and you don't get to hire your own staff? Or is this going to be a different situation than they presented to David Griffin?" ("The Happy Hour," NBC Sports Bay Area, 7/13). SNY's Marc Malusis said, “It’s great that they’ll bring in a basketball guy to be GM. But at the end of it, does he have any kind of control?" SNY’s Jon Hein: “Nothing’s going to change.” Mills is "running this team (and) James Dolan is running Steve Mills." Hein: "I don’t think much is going to change, no matter who gets that GM title” ("Loud Mouths," SNY, 7/13). SNY's Sal Licata asked, "Has there been any word on a change of ownership? Is James Dolan still running things? If so, this means nothing" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 7/13).
