Knicks hire agent Rose as president

NEW YORK — Leon Rose has spent years as one of the NBA’s most powerful agents.

Now he will try to turn around one of its weakest franchises.

The New York Knicks hired Rose as their president Monday, hoping he can sign and draft the kind of dominant players he’s been representing.

Rose is taking over a team headed toward its seventh straight season out of the playoffs. But teams such as Golden State and the Lakers have found success handing their basketball operations to an agent and the Knicks believe he can do the same.

“Leon is one of the most respected executives in professional basketball, with decades of experience successfully working with NBA players and team management in all facets of the game,“Madison Square Garden executive chairman James Dolan said in a statement. “We are confident he brings the right combination of expertise and relationships to ensure the longterm success of our franchise.”

Rose, the former co-head of the basketball division at CAA Sports, replaces Steve Mills, who was fired early last month.

Rose has represented such AllStars as LeBron James, Chris Paul and former Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, along with current young stars Joel Embiid and KarlAnthony Towns.

Now he will oversee all personnel and decisions for the Knicks.

“New York is the epicenter of basketball and Madison Square Garden has always been very special to me,” Rose said. “To be a part of the Knicks revitalization and basketball at the Garden is a challenge and a rare opportunity, one to be cherished, and I will do my utmost to make the fans, the city

Frank Franklin II / Associated Press Knicks owner James Dolan, center, announced on Monday that longtime agent Leon Rose will be the team’s new president.