The New York Knicks recently made the trip to Europe to interview David Blatt for the vacancy at head coach. It was an expected part of the process, as Blatt is a coveted candidate and a friend of team president Steve Mills.
While Mills and general manager Scott Perry were in Europe, they made it a point to evaluate more than just a candidate for the coaching vacancy.
One of the most remarkable trends in the basketball world is the rise in the importance of European scouts. Said individuals are not only tasked with identifying rising stars at head coach, but the players who are now becoming franchise cornerstones.