Syracuse basketball hiring NBA scout Alex Kline as general manager is slam-dunk move

Syracuse University alum and former NBA scout Alex Kline is the new general manager of Syracuse basketball, and I can't begin to tell you how much I love this hire.

With the transfer portal's explosion and the ongoing evolution of name, image and likeness opportunities, I've seen various college basketball programs in recent months (and perhaps further back) name GMs of their squads to work on recruiting, NIL initiatives and player development.

Now, the Orange has joined that trend, and to me, it has done so in a big-time way. Kline, who earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast and digital journalism from Syracuse's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2016, joins the 'Cuse as its general manager after previously serving as a scout with the NBA's New York Knicks since 2020.

ESPN senior writer Pete Thamel, himself an SU alumnus, wrote in a post on X that Kline "has a deep level of knowledge of the industry from his days as a recruiting analyst." Yes, please.

Heck, even the headline of the SU Athletics press release has me jazzed - "Kline Named General Manager To Reimagine Recruiting."

Syracuse basketball has made a critical move in hiring Alex Kline as its GM.

A bit of background on Kline. Per SU Athletics, in 2016, he was named a basketball operations assistant with the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans. In his time there, Kline worked on college scouting and player evaluation. Additionally, information he provided to the team was utilized for the NBA Draft and free agency endeavors.

In his four years with the Knicks, starting in 2020, "Kline was a talent evaluator who helped the organization with the NBA Draft, the trade deadline and free agency, as well as special projects for the team president, vice president and assistant general manager," according to the media statement published on cuse.com.

The general-manager role with Syracuse basketball, naturally, is a new position. Its main responsibilities will include scouting and recruiting, former student-athlete engagement, NIL, transfer-portal management, and institutional fundraising.

Head coach Adrian Autry, in the press release, said that the decision to hire Kline "aligns with our goal of being at the forefront of player evaluation, development and retention, recruiting, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college basketball. It will help Syracuse compete at the national level."

That's a key quote from Coach Autry. NIL is a huge issue. So is the portal, along with high school recruiting. By extension, player evaluation and development are vital components, and that speaks to me in large measure as the 2024 NBA Draft was held a few days ago. With former point guard Judah Mintz not selected, it's been a few years since a 'Cuse player heard his name called at an NBA Draft.

I'll end this column with an eye-opening set of thoughts from Kline in the cuse.com press statement. "Coach Autry, the staff and I are in lockstep on a process-driven vision that is linear to how NBA front offices construct winning rosters. Simply put, this was a life-changing opportunity to impact both a university and community that has poured so much into me."

Welcome home, Alex.