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Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Knicks’ Mark Hughes interviewed for assistant GM spot

By Ti Windisch

MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 19: Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens introduces Jon Horst as the team's new General Manager on June 19, 2017 at the Milwaukee Bucks Schlitz Park Offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 19: Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens introduces Jon Horst as the team's new General Manager on June 19, 2017 at the Milwaukee Bucks Schlitz Park Offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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A New York Knicks front office staffer interviewed for Milwaukee Bucks assistant general manager job.

The Milwaukee Bucks have their newest general manager, Jon Horst, after a long wait that left Bucks fans more than a little unsettled. Now that Horst is in place, though, he’s got to fill out the front office around him.

According to the latest Milwaukee Bucks rumors, a front office staffer from the New York Knicks is one candidate to become Horst’s assistant GM. Ian Begley, ESPN staff writer, reported on Wednesday night that Mark Hughes interviewed for Milwaukee’s opening.

As Begley explains in the write-up linked in the above tweet, Hughes is currently the Knicks’ director of pro player personnel. Begley calls Hughes a “veteran” executive who has been with New York in some capacity since 2007.

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In addition, Begley writes that Hughes has played a role in the Knicks’ recent draft success. The most notable recent Knick draftee is obviously Kristaps Porzingis, although players like Willy Hernangomez, Danilo Gallinari, and Mindaugas Kuzminskas were also drafted with input from Hughes.

He seems like a qualified-enough candidate for this role, especially if he really did help steer the Knicks towards Porzingis and some of the other players they’ve gotten at good value positions in the draft. Milwaukee has had a good run of picks as well, but more help in that area couldn’t hurt anything.

The number one fear for the Bucks in this situation has to be that the Knicks promote Hughes to prevent him from being poached, much like the Denver Nuggets did to prevent Milwaukee from stealing Arturas Karnisovas to become the next Bucks GM. Begley notes that New York’s current decision-makers look highly on Hughes.

In an offseason that’s been filled with chaos for the Milwaukee Bucks, this is a refreshingly normal move. Hughes seems like a very qualified assistant GM, with reporters who cover the team he works for writing nice things about him, which tells a story in its own right sometimes.

Hughes has lots of experience doing all sorts of things. He was a co-captain on the 1989 Michigan NCAA title team, played a bit of NBA ball, coached in the CBA and served as an assistant coach in the NBA, and he scouted for the Knicks before getting his current gig there.

Next: Taking a look at the offseason so far

Even if Milwaukee doesn’t end up getting Hughes, this is a perfectly fine candidate to chase. Also, the news means it’s clear there are openings in the Bucks front office, now that John Hammond and Justin Zanik (I guess?) have departed, that the team is seeking to fill externally. So that’s worth noting in it’s own right.

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