Knicks will try to change their fate with a new president

The New York Knicks have made one of the bigger moves of trade deadline week -- in the front office. 

The Knicks are parting ways with team president Steve Mills, who had been in his role since July of 2017, confirming reports of the news from earlier Monday. In the shakeup, GM Scott Perry will continue in his role for the foreseeable future while also overseeing the team's basketball operations. 

Team owner Jim Dolan is quoted in that same statment as saying: "Steve and I have come to the decision that it would be best for him to leave his role as president of the New York Knicks. We thank Steve for his many years of service to our organization and look forward to continuing our relationship with him as a part of our board."

Additionally, the moving on from Mills is because owner Dolan plans to target Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri to oversee the Knicks' operation, per multiple reports. Ujiri is under contract through the 2020-21 season.

Mills took over as team president shortly after the team parted ways with former team president Phil Jackson in June of 2017. Under Jackson, the Knicks went 80-166 with zero playoff appearances from 2014-17. 

However, the Knicks' fate hasn't been much different in the Mills era either. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, New York has also failed to make the playoffs and was 46-164 entering this season.

Mills also oversaw the surprising trade of then-injured former All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks and the 2017 trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks did find some promising talent in the Draft while Mills was in his role, unearthing wiry big man Mitchell Robinson with the 36th pick in 2018 and selecting RJ Barrett with the No. 3 pick last year.

Overall, the Knicks have made the playoffs five times in the last 20 years, with the last trip coming in 2012-13. 

Source: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/02/04/reports-knicks-parting-ways-steve-mills