HOLIDAY PRESS
The Knicks hiring of Johnnie Bryant to Tom Thibodeau’s staff apparently has two goals.
First, Bryant is seen as a strong player development coach who, like former Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne, fits in with Thibodeau’s greater emphasis on game development as the franchise looks to rebuild new players and concept picks.
And second, Bryant has a strong relationship with Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, the Elmsford, NY native who went for 57 points in the loss of Utah to Denver in a playoff game Monday and will be a limited free agent in 2021 .
‘They want him badly, but could be a possible conflict with RJ [Barrett], ”Said a source with knowledge of the Knicks’ thinking about Mitchell. “There’s a debate in the front office as to whether they can play together.”
Bryant’s hiring was first reported by The Athletic. Mitchell soon chimed on Instagram.
“What is understood does not need to be explained,” Mitchell wrote on Instagram. “Now before you leave, we first have something s – t to deal with.”
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 17: Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell # 45 goes up for a shot … [+]
Mitchell grew up as a fan of the Knicks and his first agent was Leon Rose, now the president of the Knicks. When the Knicks hired Rose, Mitchell ended the move.
“But for me, I understand that Leon, who I know personally – Leon Rose – will trend things upwards,” Mitchell told the Knicks in March. ‘I love Leon to the death. He’s a great guy, a great person and a really good businessman. So I think they’ll start going in the right direction when he gets in there.
‘I just think, since I apparently knew him from the same agency, he’s just a man who’s charismatic. He is a man who cares, understands relationships. He has a lot of relationships in this league. Of course myself, Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s been in the league for a while, so he knows how to do things. It will be interesting to see what he does. ”
Rick Pitino said he encouraged the Knicks to field Mitchell from Louisville in 2017, when the Knicks famously took Frank Ntilikina with the no. 8 pick. Dennis Smith Jr., now the teammate of Ntilikina, went no. 9 to Dallas, while Utah defeated 6-foot-1 Mitchell at no. 13 selected.
‘I tried to get the Knicks to take him, and no, [they said] they can not take him on that number, Pitino, a former Knicks coach, said last year.
Thibodeau, the current Knicks coach, has now hired two coaches in Payne and Bryant who are both known for player development and for their relationships with other NBA players.
The Bryant rental may have come out of the blue in New York, but it was applauded in Utah, where he played college football and later coached the Jazz.
Bryant is credited with developing Gordon Hayward and Damian Lillard, along with Mitchell.
He follows longtime Jazz VP of Player Staff Walt Perrin to the Knicks.
Thibodeau is expected to fill his staff with former Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, with multiple reports saying interim coach Mike Miller will continue. Sources also said that Houston Rockets scout Ed Pinckney is no longer in the mix.
KIND THAT FALL FOR FREE ACTIVITIES
The Knicks and the other seven teams not in the Orlando bubble can resume group activities Sept. 21-Oct. 6, with as many as five players on their G League affiliate who can participate, the NBA announced.
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