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James Dolan, executive chairman of Madison Square Garden, sits at a news conference next to the team logo where he introduced Phil Jackson as the new president of the New York Knicks, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in New York. Jackson, who won two NBA titles as a player for the New York Knicks, also won 11 championships while coaching the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
James Dolan, executive chairman of Madison Square Garden, sits at a news conference next to the team logo where he introduced Phil Jackson as the new president of the New York Knicks, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in New York. Jackson, who won two NBA titles as a player for the New York Knicks, also won 11 championships while coaching the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

Knicks Rumors: Agent Leon Rose to Be Named President, 'World Wide Wes' Linked

Scott PolacekFeb 6, 2020

The New York Knicks have reportedly found their next team president.

According to Ian Begley of SNY, agent Leon Rose of Creative Artists Agency is "finalizing [a] deal" with the team. Begley also noted William "World Wide Wes" Wesley is being considered as someone who could join the team since he has a "strong relationship" with Rose.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium also reported the Knicks and Rose "are nearing [a] deal" afterย Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported he "has emerged as a top target" to be in charge of basketball operations.

The Knicksย announcedย Steve Mills left his position as team president on Tuesday, andย Charaniaย noted general manager Scott Perry would take over the basketball operations role on an interim basis following his departure.

That New York looked toward a player agent for the vacant role is not surprising considering Wojnarowskiย and Ramonaย Shelburneย reported owner Jimย Dolanย was "considering" hiring from such a pool of candidates after it worked with Bob Myers and the Golden State Warriors and Robย Pelinkaย and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Wojnarowskiย also reportedย Dolanย was "targeting" Toronto Raptors team president Masaiย Ujiriย but noted he is under contract with the defending champions until after the 2020-21 season.

Marcย Bermanย of theย New York Postย suggestedย Dolan's urgency in looking for a new team president decreased the likelihood of the team hiringย Ujiri. "Dolan reveres loyalty and still isn't extremely keen on gettingย Ujiriย to break his contract, requiring the Knicks to give up at least one first-round pick,"ย heย wrote.

Rose isn't the only player agent who garnered consideration, asย Stefan Bondyย of theย New York Daily Newsย reported B.J. Armstrong was "discussed internally" as a candidate. Armstrong won three championships as a member of the Chicago Bulls while playing alongside Michael Jordan in the 1990s.

Rose has relationships with many of the best players in the league.ย Wojnarowskiย andย Shelburneย noted Joelย Embiid, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Carmelo Anthony and Kyleย Kuzmaย are among his clients.

He also represented LeBron James and Allen Iverson and has connections with notable figures of the Knicks' past:

The new president will have his work cut out for him in the Big Apple.

The Knicks haven't reached the playoffs since the 2012-13 season, have won one playoff series since reaching the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals and are only 15-36 this season. Whileย RJย Barrett and Mitchell Robinson are talented, young building blocks, the once-proud franchise has otherwise fallen upon tough times as of late.

2017 Warriors vs. 2027 Sixers