Perry won’t let losing culture sink in
CHICAGO — As much as Knicks general manager Scott Perry has referred to the 2017-18 season as one of “development,” he doesn’t want that misconstrued as wanting to lose to get a high lottery pick.
In his first denial the new regime went into this season with eyes on tanking, Perry took a shot at the 76ers’ “Trust The Process” disciples, saying it’s unhealthy for an organization to “try to institutionalize losing.”
The Knicks’ opponent was the Bulls, widely considered in tanking mode amid a 5-20 start after a 104-102 win Saturday.
The Knicks posted a sur- prisingly upbeat 12-12 ledger heading into Saturday, and Perry wants that to continue and for the Knicks to stay in the playoff race as long as they can — lottery pick be damned.
Perry said he feels his scouting staff still will make a good pick no matter the team is slotted.
“I think it’s very important if you’re playing meaningful basketball late in the season because of the culture you’re trying to build here,” Perry said in a wide-ranging interview Saturday at United Center. “I’ll also say wherever we wind up in the draft, whether on the playoff side or lottery side, I have extreme confidence in the scouting and front-office staff we’re going to add some talented players to the mix here.”
Entering Saturday, the Knicks were in ninth place in the East, one game out of a playoff slot. The Sixers, tanking masters the past several embarrassing seasons, are in the eighth hole.
“I just believe it’s important to compete hard, do the very best you can, let the amount of wins organically happen vs. trying to put your team in position not to win,” Perry said. “I don’t think that’s healthy for any culture. I think if you try to institutionalize losing, that’s hard to get out of your building. You may never get that out of your building.”
Part of the reason for the Knicks’ relevancy is winning the Carmelo Anthony trade. Starting center Enes Kanter and sixth man Doug McDermott have fit in well. They also got the Bulls’ secondrounder — which could be the first pick of that round, the coveted 31st selection.
“We’re very pleased with the addition of Enes and Doug,” Perry said. “Enes has come in and quickly become a crowd favorite. He brings a toughness. He brings commitment to team.
“Doug is the consummate professional, can stretch the defense because he can shoot 3-point shots and done even better on the defensive end than most people thought. Both those guys have been about enhancing the culture we want to have here.”