In September 2013, Knicks players and coaches started to notice people sitting around — usually on computers — during practices and, later, before games. These were people who were not part of the organization. Basketball players are highly attuned to their surroundings, especially in their workspace, and the presence of interlopers doesn’t go unnoticed. These people appeared without explanation.



That spring, the Knicks had reached the second round of the playoffs. They had just won 54 regular season games and capped off what proved to be the high point of the Carmelo Anthony era. For a full season, all was finally well at Madison Square Garden.



It didn’t last long, and the Knicks haven’t been back to the playoffs since.



The Knicks fired Glen Grunwald, the general manager of that team, in September 2013 and hired Steve Mills — a move that still confounds those around at the time. Phil Jackson was installed as the new team...