Tag: Frank Zanin

The Knicks made sweeping changes to …

The Knicks made sweeping changes to their front office this year, in hopes of reversing a two-decade trend of ineptitude. They hired power agent Leon Rose from Creative Artists Agency to become team president. Rose in turn hired William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley, a noted power broker and player confidante, as a top assistant, along with respected front-office veterans Walt Perrin, Brock Aller and Frank Zanin. But their task likely just got tougher, especially when it comes to wooing marquee players. “I think it’s a big black eye on the Knicks as an organization,” said an agent whose firm represents multiple stars, referring to the club’s silence. The agent, who is Black, added, “It will continue to be something that players look down upon, and it further explains why guys like Kevin Durant [passed on the Knicks]. You got all the resources and all the richness of the NBA, and still people don’t want to associate themselves with it.”

“He’s been operating at a high level …

“He’s been operating at a high level with Utah for a long time,” one member of an opposing team familiar with Perrin’s work said. “This is a really good hire. Really good.” Said someone else familiar with the scouting/executive community in the NBA: “He’s a really good guy. No nonsense guy.” In Utah, Perrin was most recently the VP of Player Personnel. Throughout his 19-year tenure in Utah, Perrin was regularly involved with Jazz drafts.

Zanin has been a scout with the Thunder …

Zanin has been a scout with the Thunder for the past four years. Like Utah, the Thunder are respected throughout the league for their scouting on the college and pro level under Sam Presti. “If Presti hires you, it says something (about your ability),” one opposing scout said when asked about Zanin. Prior to his stint with Oklahoma City, Zanin worked closely with Billy King in Brooklyn. Zanin was an assistant GM with the Nets and elevated to acting GM after King’s dismissal. He stepped down after the Nets hired Sean Marks as general manager. Zanin, who began his career with King in Philadelphia, was described by one opposing scout as a hard worker who doesn’t seek the spotlight. During his tenure as acting GM, Zanin was in the spotlight for a brief time — but not from his own actions.

The Knicks are hiring Thunder assistant general manager Frank Zanin

The Thunder will be losing a member of their front office to Leon Rose’s front office in New York.

The New York Knicks are a team that’s no stranger to rebuilding, and the latest push of the reset button in Manhattan has seen the club install long-time agent Leon Rose to head up its basketball operations.

Rose has been making news over the past month by pilfering talents from some front offices across the league.

Last month, the New York Post reported that Rose was zeroing in on Cavaliers capologist Brock Aller before Walt Perrin of the Utah Jazz became the latest member of another front office to be targeted by the Knicks.

On Tuesday morning, The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov reported that the Knicks will hire Thunder assistant general manager of pro personnel Frank Zanin.

Before landing with the Thunder, Zanin spent six years with the Brooklyn Nets before leaving for Oklahoma City in 2016.

Now, he will take his talents back to New York City and take up residence on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Team president Leon Rose is continuing his first wave of hires to remake the Knicks front office. He is bringing aboard Frank Zanin as assistant general manager for pro personnel, league sources say. Zanin’s hire isn’t official yet, but the two sides are working toward a deal.

Zanin is a longtime league executive and former member of the Nets front office. He served as an assistant GM there and took over for a spell after Brooklyn fired Billy King in 2016. Zanin has been with the Oklahoma City Thunder front office since.

Although Vorkunov’s report doesn’t specify when Zanin will leave the Thunder, his departure is probably imminent considering the fact that Rose’s front office is taking shape and the Knicks will want to begin restructuring their roster this offseason.