Former Warriors GM Bob Myers praises Knicks’ evolution from middling to playoff-caliber team

Jan 22, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts to a play against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports / © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Bob Myers is entering his first season as an ESPN analyst.

For the past decade, Myers was the lead executive in Golden State. Before that, Myers was a top player agent. So he knows the inner-workings of team building as well as anyone on the planet.

When Myers looks at the Knicks’ current position, he sees a team well positioned to go “from good to great.”

“The next thing they do, I think, will define them over the next four-five years,” Myers said on a conference call Monday to talk about his new role and the upcoming NBA season.

Myers complimented team president Leon Rose and his group for building the Knicks from a middling team to playoff-caliber.

But the big test for Rose & Co. is what they do to push the team to the next tier.

“They’re good and how do they get to great? That’s probably harder than going from bad to good, which they’ve already done. Now, the question is how do you get from the five or four seed to the one or two seed,” Myers said when asked about Rose and the Knicks.

Internally, the Knicks know they have to take a step forward this year after last season’s 47-win campaign. The club seems to believe that internal development and the addition of Donte DiVincenzo will push them forward. Maybe they are right.

But Myers believes they are also an attractive destination for a player looking to change scenery.

“I think what has shifted (recently is) … there was a time where I felt like people may not have wanted to play in (New York City). And I think that’s changed,” Myers said on Monday. “I think now you’re looking at murmurings, hearing things – ‘Hey, what about the Knicks?’ And the draft capital they have – it’s a realistic thing. It’s not some lay person saying, ‘Well, the Knicks should go get this guy!’ Now it’s viable, it’s possible.

“And they have what it takes with first-round picks in their cabinet to go do it. They’ve got a lot of good young players on pretty affordable contracts. They’re just another team that you’re kind of waiting for the next big thing.”

The Knicks had an opportunity to trade for Donovan Mitchell in the 2022 offseason but decided against meeting Utah’s desired return. They weren’t aggressively pursuing trade candidates Damian Lillard and James Harden this offseason.

Some Knicks fans are getting tired of New York’s patient approach. Others applaud it. Myers understands the approach but says the Knicks need to be aggressive when the opportunity arises.

“Look, it’s hard because there’s windows of time but you can’t control the deals that present themselves to a certain degree,” Myers said. “But when the one that comes up does, you have to get that deal done, whatever it is. Whatever you identify as this is the thing that is going to make us great, you just have to make sure that that happens.”

To Myers, you don’t necessarily have to land a top five player. He referenced the Warriors trade for Andre Iguodala ahead of their first title.

“You hope you get something that unlocks everyone else or amplifies the rest of your team,” Myers said. “I think the Knicks have been patient and at least they haven’t done anything irrational in my mind. They haven’t had a big misstep where you would say, ‘Hey, look they blew it on the wrong guy.’ And that can set you back for years. So I think there has to be a healthy amount of impatience but not imprudent. So I think that’s what the Knicks are looking at.”

The Knicks start the regular season on Oct. 25 against Boston. They have a tough early-season schedule. Myers believes New York has the right person on the sideline to coach this group.

“One thing (Tom) Thibodeau is great at is he will make sure that you’re getting the most out of what you have,” Myers said. “Some might say, of course, that’s obvious. I think he’s one of the best in the league at getting the most out of his players and the most out of each regular season game. He coaches every regular season game like it’s a playoff game. And I think that works well in that market, that kind of effort.”

Regardless of how things play out from here, Myers believes Rose, executive VP William Wesley and Thibodeau have put the Knicks in a solid position.

“If you want to evaluate a front office, look at what it was when they got there and what it is now,” Myers, a two-time NBA Executive of the Year, said. “I don’t think anyone would disagree the Knicks are in a much better place (now) than they were prior to Leon, Wes and Thibodeau showing up.”