Knicks general manager Scott Perry already has emerged as a candidate to replace fired Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, according a report by Yahoo Sports.
Olshey was axed Friday after an independent investigation determined he violated the team’s code of conduct. The Blazers announced last month they had hired a private law firm to investigate “concerns around the workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility.”
Perry, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Knicks before this season, was a member of the Pistons’ front office when current Portland coach Chauncey Billups played for Detroit. Chicago Bulls GM Marc Eversley also is expected to be considered for the post, according to the report.
It is unclear how Portland’s front office shakeup will affect the status of All-Star guard Damian Lillard, a player whose situation the Knicks have continued to monitor.
Knicks big man Taj Gibson didn’t think he did enough to merit two technical fouls and an automatic ejection after arguing with the officials in the first quarter of the loss to the Bulls on Thursday.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t think it would go that far,” Gibson said. “I have a good relationship with all the refs in the league. … I understand we have to work with them. So it’s like a co-worker, I know you have to understand the basics, but I know all of them by heart. I talk to them before the game.
“I didn’t think he was going that far … I just thought it was going to be one [technical]. I understood it would have been a tech, I just wanted to get one, just so he would understand where I’m coming from. I would have talked to him at halftime and we would have talked about it and moved on. But I didn’t really think it would have been an ejection. That’s why I left in a timely fashion. I was disappointed I let my teammates down, but I just got to move on and be better for the next one.”
RJ Barrett (non-COVID illness) has been listed as probable for Saturday’s game against the Nuggets. Nerlens Noel (knee) is questionable, but “went through practice [Friday] and we’ll see how he feels,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.