After reports that the New York Knicks were interested in Raptors president Masai Ujiri, the team looked at player agent Leon Rose to be Knicks president. Hiring Rose may still not be a bad decision but how Knicks owner James Dolan got to this point is reportedly classic Dolan.
In his New York Times newsletter, Marc Stein expanded on what mindset the Knicks and Dolan were in when hiring Rose and it allegedly involved Dolan doing the opposite of what others around him suggested he do.
Among the reasons Rose was chosen, I’m told, is that Dolan, had grown sick of people telling him he needed to pursue an experienced executive such as Toronto’s Masai Ujiri and turned to Rose instead after a decade of frequent business between the Knicks and Rose’s former employers at Creative Artists Agency.
So like a teenager rebelling to their parents, Dolan went with Rose instead of the executive who just won an NBA title. I’m all about giving someone an opportunity in a new field and someone with Rose’s background is important to have as a team president. Rose has been on the player’s side of the negotiating table so he should know what they’re thinking when he’s on the team side during negotiations. And given Bob Myers and Rob Pelinka have done well at Golden State and LA respectively, we shouldn’t automatically assume Rose would be a disaster.
Then again, this is the New York Knicks and this is James Dolan. Anything that can go wrong, will, and it’s not a good start to the relationship when you’re hired by the owner out of spite. But I guess if you’re going to have the backing from anyone on the team, it’s best to get that from the owner, even if that person is James Dolan.