For the last two years, reaching the second round of the NBA playoffs was deemed a success for the New York Knicks. Now, the bar will be much higher after they executed one of the biggest trades of the offseason. Mikal Bridges is not the piece fans envisioned when they mapped out the inevitable blockbuster the Knicks would pull off.
They were picturing perhaps a former MVP , an All-NBA honoree , or at the very least somebody with multiple All-Star nods to his name. Instead, New York used the bulk of its assets to land Bridges, an elite three-and-D presence, albeit one who hasn't yet made an All-Star team and certainly isn't considered a cornerstone talent. The trade was also an endorsement behind the idea of Jalen Brunson as the No.
1 player on a championship contender, something to which NBA insider Marc Stein reported there's still some doubt despite the guard performing at an MVP-type level in 2023-24. Brunson has already re-signed on a below-market extension and Stein reported Bridges could do the same when the time comes. That will go a long way toward helping New York navigate around the more restrictive salary cap.
The 2024-25 season isn't a championship-or-bust situation for the Knicks, who figure to have this core together for multiple years. However, anything short of an Eastern Conference Finals trip will likely be deemed a disappointment. 2024-25 Knicks Schedule Details Season Opener: at Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Oct.
22, 7:30 p.m. ET Championship Odds: +900 (bet.