The 2023-24 season ended on a low note for the New York Knicks, getting knocked out in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. But, overall, it was a successful campaign as the team took more steps in the right direction.
This offseason is a very important one for the franchise. They are on the cusp of being true contenders. It can be argued they would have been this season had injuries not hit the team so hard.
What can they do to ensure they remain as contenders? In the opinion of Chris Herring of ESPN, the New York Knicks just need to stay the course.
“Perhaps more than any other team aside from the NBA champion Celtics, the Knicks should feel good about largely maintaining the status quo. That task will come with a hefty bill, of course, as defensive stud OG Anunoby and center Isaiah Hartenstein, the latter of whom was enormously impressive upon joining the team’s starting lineup, are both free agents who can command top dollar in the marketplace,” Herring wrote.
While some fans want to see a splashy trade get completed, that isn’t a path the franchise has to go down any longer. Jalen Brunson is a bonafide star and Julius Randle is a multi-time All-Star and All-NBA level performer.
With the right group of players around that duo, the New York Knicks can find a ton of success. We already saw how dominant they can be with OG Anunboy and Isaiah Hartenstein in the starting lineup alongside them and Donte DiVincenzo.
For four weeks, the New York Knicks were the best team in the NBA. Anunoby proved to be a great fit as the missing piece on both ends of the floor. Hartenstein raised the team’s floor as well, performing as one of the best defenders in the NBA and offering more than Mitchell Robinson offensively.
Team president Leon Rose has the assets to make minor moves or big ones. Given the dearth of game-changing talent seemingly available on the trade market, minor moves to fill the gaps make sense.
A healthy New York Knicks team will make noise in the Eastern Conference. Upgrading the depth at the end of the bench is certainly a need this offseason. After trading away their first-round picks in recent drafts, New York could look to replenish depth with players that fill specific needs that the team can look to develop.
Do you want the latest news, updates, and rumors surrounding all sports? Click here. Make sure to check out our sister sites as well: NFL Analysis Network, NBA Analysis Network, Packers Coverage.
