Layden Leaves for Knicks After Long Tenure in Utah

Scott Layden, who masterminded Utah Jazz personnel moves for 11 seasons, accepted a job Tuesday with the New York Knicks.

The move is a homecoming for Layden, who was born in New York, and transports him from the NBA’s smallest market to its largest.

“It comes as a really tough decision to move on, but it just feels like the right thing to do,” Layden, 41, said in Salt Lake City. “I need to move on and grow up a little bit.”

Layden declined to discuss the Knick position, saying details would come during a news conference today in New York. He likely will be introduced as the successor to fired general manager Ernie Grunfeld.

News reports indicated Layden could be paid about $1.5 million in New York, four times his Utah salary. He wouldn’t talk about money but denied it was the reason he’s leaving.

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Center Rik Smits, whose chronic foot pain prompted thoughts of retirement two months ago, plans to return to the Indiana Pacers for at least another season.

“The feet are feeling pretty good, and I did some thinking,” said Smits, 32, citing some new treatment this summer. “I’m going to give it a try.”

He said he felt obligated to fulfill the final year of his contract, which will pay him $12.5 million.

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Swingman Ruben Patterson, the Lakers’ little-used 1998 second-round draft choice, signed a three-year free-agent deal with the Seattle SuperSonics.

The 6-foot-5 Patterson, who did not figure in the Lakers’ plans for next season, was chosen with the 31st overall selection in last year’s draft and appeared in 24 games for the Lakers--starting two--and averaged 2.7 points. He played in college at Cincinnati.