Call it a “sneaky hire.” In moving to replace college scouts Walker Russell and Kristian Petesic, the Knicks added two talent evaluators without making an announcement. The Post reported Thursday former Heat rival and 2022 Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway being one of the hires. According to an NBA source, the other hire by Knicks president Leon Rose was an out-of-the-box addition in Vince Baldwin — a longtime Nike talent scout who has extensive contacts across his years in the high school and college ranks.
Scouting Rumors
Baldwin also is close with Knicks senior executive William Wesley, who worked unofficially for Rose at Creative Artists Agency helping get Rose’s clients shoe deals. While in the shadows, Wesley reportedly aligned himself with Nike but wasn’t on the payroll.
Hall-of-Famer Tim Hardaway has been with the Knicks as a scout for most of the season, a source told SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley. Marc Berman of the New York Post first reported on Thursday that Hardaway was hired by the Knicks, and he has been interviewing prospects at the NBA Combine. Begley adds that he was scouting college players for most of the year. Hardaway was a 14-year vet and five-time All-Star and will enter the Hall of Fame later this year.
Austin Ainge, the son of Boston Celtics royalty – championship winner turned former GM Danny Ainge, is in Australia evaluating the NBL’s draft hopefuls. Ainge junior, the director of player personnel at the Celtics, attended last Sunday’s Melbourne United versus Adelaide 36ers clash at John Cain Arena. United big man Ariel Hukporti was on show while Adelaide’s Filipino star Kai Sotto also played.
Ainge’s next stop is Cairns to watch the New Zealand Breakers’ two French NBA draft prospects play. Forward Ousmane Deng and guard Hugo Besson are ranked at 19 and 32 respectively in ESPN’s recent mock draft.
One scout who spoke to HoopsHype on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on behalf of their team said they have moved Holmgren to their No. 1 overall spot on their big board after the opening weekend of the tournament. The scout remarked that in addition to his size and length and other on-court skills the big man has showcased, Holmgren also had a fantastic “disposition and demeanor” on display.
