The New York Knicks reached the Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, but in the end it was still a disappointment. As a result, coach Tom Thibodeau had to step down. Can the Knicks take the long-awaited final step under Mike Brown?
New York Knicks: What happened in the offseason?
Tom Thibodeau was no longer uncontroversial in New York, but his dismissal after the Conference Finals (2-4) came as a bit of a surprise. After all, the Knicks had previously eliminated the reigning champions Boston, who played at least four games with their best lineup before Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon.
Thibodeau’s basketball, however, often seemed monotonous and too focused on Jalen Brunson. Management finally met with several players and then decided to make a change at the helm. A somewhat bizarre phase followed with numerous rejections. Jason Kidd (Dallas), Chris Finch (Minnesota), and Ime Udoka (Houston) were not allowed to audition, and instead the choice fell on Mike Brown, who was fired by the Sacramento Kings at the beginning of the year.
Otherwise, the summer was quiet, as New York had little room to maneuver after trading for Karl-Anthony Towns in the previous summer and extending Brunson and O.G. Anunoby. In August, Mikal Bridges’ contract was also extended, keeping him under contract until 2030 and earning him $150 million over four years.
Ultimately, it’s not a maximum contract, but it’s still a lot of money for Bridges, who has been less than convincing since his trade from Brooklyn and has lost some of his defensive prowess compared to his old Suns days. New additions include Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson. The latter will take over Payne’s role as a scoring option off the bench, while Yabusele will come in as an all-rounder for the big positions. Both bring some depth, but nothing more.
In return, a quintet left the Knicks, none of whom got much playing time. From a German perspective, however, it was pleasing that Ariel Hukporti’s team option (approx. $2 million) was exercised. The German big man is likely to be slotted in again as the third center behind Towns and Mitchell Robinson.
New York Knicks: What is the franchise’s direction?
The Knicks are chasing their first championship since 1973 and their first Finals appearance since 1999. With Brunson, Bridges, Towns, Anunoby, and Josh Hart under contract until at least 2028, this is likely to be the window in which the Knicks have a realistic chance of winning the title.
The conditions are also favorable. Longtime rival Indiana and perennial powerhouse Boston are plagued by injuries and will be out of the title race next season. This means that the Eastern Conference is wide open again and the Knicks must be considered one of the top favorites.
New York Knicks: Where are the weaknesses?
As good as the starting five is, there is still a lack of quality behind them, especially on the wings. In addition, perimeter defense remains an issue because Bridges usually has to defend the best guards. However, that is not (any longer) one of his strengths; he would be better off on the wing.
Then there is the question of whether Brown is actually an upgrade. Despite his good years in Sacramento, he is only considered an offensive guru and creative mind to a limited extent. At the same time, Brunson is by far the best ball handler on the team, with the rest contributing too little. That’s nitpicking at a high level, but given the Knicks’ ambitions, these are valid points.
New York Knicks: Prediction
Along with Cleveland and possibly Orlando, the Knicks are the top favorites to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. The team has been together for a good year now, with the coach being the only new variable in the system. Brown has proven that he can work with ball-dominant guards (Fox), and Brunson is now in the prime of his career and should have another All-NBA-level season.
The challenge will be to better integrate Towns into the offense to gain more flexibility. New York has the potential to be a top-5 offense and thus also has a chance to win a title. But will it be enough against the heavyweights from the West? That’s questionable, but this season should still be seen as a golden opportunity for the starving fans in the Big Apple. It probably won’t get any “easier.”