Ex-GM Scott Perry Warns New York Knicks of Trading For 'Disgruntled Stars'

As the New York Knicks continue to seek a trade for a difference-maker, former general manager Scott Perry offered a cryptic warning.

Michael Scott would perhaps approve of the New York Knicks' current state of mind, as everyone involved appears very "gruntled" in the midst of six wins over their last seven games. 

But the Knicks (8-5) continue to monitor the Association's gossip waves for disgruntled superstars to acquire in a potential trade. 

New York is fresh off its most successful season in a decade, winning 47 games and a playoff series as the Eastern Conference's fifth seed. It's been generally agreed upon, however, that the Knicks will need something more to earn an invite to the conference's penthouse. Of their five losses, three have come at the hands of the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks, who have repped the East in two of the past three NBA Finals.

The slightest hint of discontent with their current employer often links modern superstars to the Knicks. Former New York general manager Scott Perry, however, warned his former compatriots that, in the eyes of some stars, the hardwood isn't always cleaner on the other side.

“Me personally, you have to proceed with real caution," Perry said in a recent appearance on the Hoop Genius podcast. "There’s no guarantee that (a disgruntled superstar's) going to become not disgruntled when he comes to your team.”

In recent seasons, the trade block has often yielded more superstar transfers than outright free agency. One of the most notorious cases has been that of James Harden, who has been on the roster of three different teams over the past 21 months. This time around, Harden, having had enough of the Philadelphia 76ers, forced his way out west to form the NBA's latest supposed superteam on a Los Angeles Clippers group co-starring Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook.

Perry and the Knicks parted ways earlier this year / USA TODAY SPORTS

But Los Angeles lost each of its first five games (the first against the Knicks on Nov. 6) with Harden in its lineup before finally prevailing against Houston on Friday night. In contrast, Philadelphia has gotten off to a sterling start behind the efforts of reigning NBA MVP and Knicks trade prey Joel Embiid. 

Perry, the Knicks general manager for six seasons (2017-23), also recalled the case of Dwight Howard from his time in the Orlando Magic's front office: Howard was the face of Orlando basketball for eight seasons before likewise demanding fulfillment of a Southern California dream. Now playing in China, Howard spent three one-year stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, part of a nomadic post-Orlando career that never saw him reach his Central Floridian heights. In addition to his time with the Lakers, Howard also worked in Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, and Philadelphia.

“When I first got to Orlando, he was the Orlando Magic,” Perry said of Howard. “Ever since he’s been gone from there, what’s his career looked like? He’s been searching for what he had in Orlando the entire time.”

Looking to rebuild their status as a destination franchise, the Knicks have hoped for a similar case. Embiid is probably off the table as long as the 76ers keep winning but multi-faceted big men like Karl-Anthony Towns and Zion Williamson could be on the move, as well as Chicago Bulls shooter Zach LaVine (who is reportedly uninterested in coming to New York).

Perry noted that the Knicks are indeed probably "one player away" from true contention. But he doesn't expect that final piece to be a misfit from another puzzle.

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"There’s an old saying, ‘The grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.’ We like to think that it is just change for the sake of change," Perry noted. "I like when players and people in general try to figure out the situation they’re going to be in. When you look at these disgruntled stars, how many of them have left a situation where everything was catered around them and gone to the new situation, and it’s the exact same thing for them?"

As currently constructed, the Knicks will wrap up a five-game road trip on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET, MSG).