Utah Jazz Announce Departure of Walt Perrin For New York Knicks
May 27, 2020, 11:07 AM | Updated: Jun 3, 2020, 11:26 am
Jazz Vice President of Player Personnel Walt Perrin speaks to media after a workout for the Utah Jazz before next week's NBA draft at the Zions Bank Basketball Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Silas Walker, Deseret News)
(Silas Walker, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz confirmed the departure of vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin to the New York Knicks today. Jazz vice president of basketball operations wished Perrin well in his new role as assistant general manager of college scouting.
“Walt Perrin has been a tremendous asset to the Jazz organization over the past 19 seasons,” The release read. “His work overseeing player personnel, including his enormous impact on our draft acquisitions, has been an invaluable part of our franchise’s success and he will be missed. We wish Walt all the best in his new role with the New York Knicks.”
Statement from Dennis Lindsey of the @UtahJazz on Vice President of Player Personnel Walt Perrin accepting the assistant GM position with the @nyknicks. pic.twitter.com/wzKwvQwfe2
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 27, 2020
Perrin first joined the Jazz in 2003 and was named an executive in 2009. Perrin was one of the last remaining hires of former vice president of basketball operations Kevin O’Connor. O’Connor still serves as a senior executive for the franchise. Perrin had overseen the Jazz scouting efforts both in the United States and abroad. He also conducted the team’s pre-draft workouts with potential draft picks.
Perrin Joins The Knicks
The Jazz waited to announce the move until the Knicks issued a statement on Perrin. In a joint release, the Knicks announced three front office hires. Those include the addition of Perrin, vice president of basketball and strategic planning Brock Aller, and Frank Zannin an assistant general manager of pro scouting.
The Knicks statement included the impressive legacy Perrin built during his time in Utah.
.@nyknicks Announce Front Office Hirings pic.twitter.com/kTX4ARC4vM
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) May 27, 2020
“Perrin assisted the Jazz in draft All-Stars such as Gordon Hayward, Paul Millsap and Deron Williams,” The release read. “He also acquired All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in separate draft day trades with the Denver Nuggets.”
The Knicks have undergone a front officer overhaul over the past several months.
In March, the team hired former player agent Leon Rose to take over as team president. Meanwhile, Scott Perry replaced former Knicks general manager Steve Mills in February.
