Scott Perry may not be a household name in the world of NBA executives, but his impact on two franchises, the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards, has been substantial. Perry’s expertise in scouting and talent evaluation has helped both teams rebuild their rosters and position themselves for success in the future.

Perry began his career in basketball as an assistant coach at the University of Detroit Mercy, but quickly transitioned to the front office side of the game. He worked as a scout for the Detroit Pistons, Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder), and the Orlando Magic before being named the assistant general manager for the Sacramento Kings in 2013.

It was in Sacramento where Perry began to make a name for himself as a talent evaluator. He played a key role in the Kings’ acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins, one of the league’s most dominant big men at the time. Perry also played a major role in the drafting of Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere, two promising young prospects who are still in the league today.

In 2017, Perry was hired as the general manager of the New York Knicks, who were coming off a disappointing season that saw them finish with a record of 31-51. Perry’s first task was to help the Knicks rebuild their roster and establish a new culture of accountability and hard work. He did this by bringing in young talent through the draft, as well as through free agency and trades.

One of Perry’s biggest moves as Knicks GM was the drafting of Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Porzingis quickly became a fan favorite in New York, earning the nickname “The Unicorn” for his rare combination of size, speed, and shooting ability. Perry also brought in promising young guards Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. through the draft and trade, respectively.

However, Perry’s time with the Knicks was not without controversy. He was heavily criticized for his decision to sign veteran power forward Joakim Noah to a four-year, $72 million contract in 2016. Noah struggled with injuries and poor play during his time in New York, and the contract was widely seen as one of the worst in the league.

Despite this misstep, Perry’s overall track record in New York was solid. He helped the Knicks establish a new culture of hard work and accountability, and positioned them well for the future with a young, talented roster.

In 2020, Perry was let go by the Knicks, but was quickly picked up by the Washington Wizards as their new vice president of player personnel. In this role, Perry once again put his scouting and talent evaluation skills to work, helping the Wizards rebuild their roster around superstar guard Bradley Beal.

Perry’s impact on the Wizards was felt immediately. In his first season with the team, he helped bring in promising young players like Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura, and Daniel Gafford, who all played key roles in the Wizards’ playoff run in 2021.

Perhaps Perry’s most impressive move with the Wizards was the trade that brought All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook to the team in exchange for John Wall and a first-round draft pick. While Westbrook’s contract was seen as a major risk for the Wizards, Perry believed that the former MVP could help push the team to the next level.

Perry’s confidence in Westbrook paid off, as the dynamic point guard helped lead the Wizards to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Though the team was eliminated in the first round, Perry’s impact on the team’s success cannot be overstated.