The Utah Jazz losing Walt Perrin is a big deal (and few people realize it)

Recently, so much has taken place for the Utah Jazz — hardly any of it good, mind you. Walt Perrin leaving for the New York Knicks is certainly part of it.

Last week, I wrote an article about the past two-plus months being some of the hardest in the history of Utah Jazz basketball. But even I, a writer who follows the franchise on an unhealthy level, failed to mention Walt Perrin’s leaving the team as yet another frustrating piece of news.

Perrin spent nearly two decades in Utah, first serving as the franchise’s director of player personnel for seven years. He was promoted to vice president of player personnel in 2008.

And if you’re not quite sure what an NBA executive in the “player personnel” arena does, no worries — me, neither. The Utah Jazz listed Perrin’s role with the team as having to do with talent evaluation and assisting Justin Zanik and Dennis Lindsey with potential player acquisitions.

Individually, Perrin built a reputation for himself as a non-stop, on-the-go kind of guy. League-wide, whereas most full-time evaluators of NBA talent would largely frequent NCAA games and practices, year-round, Perrin was a regular at international tournaments and high school events.

In a statement released by the Jazz on Wednesday, it’s clear that he’ll be missed:

"“Walt Perrin has been a tremendous asset to the Jazz organization over the past 19 seasons. His work overseeing player personnel, including his enormous impact on our draft acquisitions, has been an invaluable part of our franchise’s success, and he will be missed. We wish Walt all the best in his new role with the New York Knicks.”"

In all seriousness, if ever there was an organization in desperate need of Perrin’s services, it’d be James Dolan, Leon Rose and the lowly New York Knicks. Situated in the 41st most-populated city on earth, not only can the Knicks inexplicably not attract big-name free agents, but outside of Kristaps Porziņģis — and we all remember how that ended — they can’t draft, either.

On the flip side of things, check out the highlights of Perrin’s draft-night prowess …

• Deron Williams: 2005 NBA Draft, 3rd Overall Pick (Illinois)
• Gordon Hayward: 2010 NBA Draft, 9th Overall Pick (Butler)
• Rudy Gobert: 2013 NBA Draft, 27th Overall Pick (Cholet Basket)
• Paul Millsap: 2006 NBA Draft, 47th Overall Pick (Louisiana Tech)
• Donovan Mitchell: 2017 NBA Draft, 13th Overall Pick (Louisville)

Know this now: this kind of franchise-boosting track record isn’t at all normal, Jazz fans.

It’d be unfair to say that Perrin worked alone, though. After all, he wasn’t the Utah Jazz’s general manager. But his longevity in Salt Lake City is a testament to his ability to find “hidden gems” amongst a sea of similar-looking NBA prospects — you’ll soon notice his absence, I’m sure.

There’s no telling when the 2020 NBA Draft will take place, but when it does, with Perrin as the Knicks’ new assistant general manager, the team will use their two first-round draft picks wisely.

As for Utah, to date, the Jazz haven’t yet named Perrin’s replacement …

Fingers crossed his (or her) services will be of the 20-year variety, as well.