The New York Knicks filled front office vacancies on Thursday. Former Creative Artists Agency player agent Leon Rose was hired as president of basketball operations, and reports indicated that William Wesley, known as "World Wide Wes," will also be joining the organization in a basketball operations-related role.

After the news broke, it didn't take long either for speculation to begin over whether or not Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Calipari would consider taking his talents to Madison Square Garden if he was to be pursued by the Knicks. The three have shared a close relationship over the years through their mutual affiliation with the CAA.

For that reason, it's not the first time that Calipari's name has been linked to the franchise that has been lost in the woods for a generous amount of time. In 2013, Ken Berger, then with CBSSports.com, wrote a column entitled “Calling John Calipari is next step for CAA-dominated Knicks.” It was additionally reported in 2017 that Calipari reached out to the Knicks about the president, but the Kentucky head coach promptly refuted that claim.

Worldwide Wes is going to be part of the Knicks front office. Could this be the move that brings Calipari back to the NBA? https://t.co/xthzqbNs3m — Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) February 6, 2020

World Wide Wes now with the Knicks.



Knicks need a coach.



Wes’ buddy is John Calipari.



Just sayin’. — Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 6, 2020

Congratulations to new Knicks head coach John Calipari. — Mike Prada. I have spoken (@MikePradaSBN) February 6, 2020

Calipari, 60, has served as the head coach at Kentucky since 2009. He has compiled a 322–76 head coaching record at the helm in Lexington, leading the Wildcats to a national championship during the 2011-2012 campaign. Calipari signed a lifetime contract with Kentucky this past June worth $86 million.

The Knicks are currently under the direction of interim head coach Mike Miller, who assumed the role in December after the franchise fired David Fizdale. Fizdale was only in his second season as the team's head coach when he was relieved of his duties following a 4-18 start.

James Dolan, the executive chairman and CEO of the New York Knicks, released a statement on the decision to remove Steve Mills as the organization’s president of basketball operations earlier in the week. Mills had been in the position since 2017. He replaced 11-time NBA champion coach Phil Jackson, who served as Knicks president beginning in 2014.

“Steve and I have come to the decision that it would be best for him to leave his role as president of the New York Knicks,” Dolan said in a statement. “We thank Steve for his many years of service to our organization and look forward to continuing our relationship with him as part of our board.”

During Mills’ tenure as president, the Knicks were a combined 61-154. The team wasn’t better during Jackson’s three years in charge, compiling an overall mark of 80-166.