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 $100 to win $900), per FanDuel Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on the team's official site .
Top Matchups Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics weren't runaway championship favorites when the 2024 NBA playoffs opened but were the strongest team on paper. Boston had the best net rating (plus-11.7) in the regular season, per NBA.
com , and a roster with a wealth of postseason experience. That's why it's tough to discount the Celtics' run to a title despite the fact their four playoff opponents were either playing shorthanded or relying on stars dealing with injuries. Little was needed in the summer because the franchise returns pretty much the entire team.
Kristaps Porziņģis is the one variable since the veteran forward underwent surgery that will likely cause him to miss opening night and then some. Once he returns to the court, Porziņģis will need time to ramp up and be in true regular-season form. In general, the reigning champions get the benefit of the doubt when they don't suffer any major personnel losses.
Until somebody else proves otherwise, the Eastern Conference goes through Boston. Philadelphia 76ers Few teams know better than the Knicks how banking on big free agents to sign with you in the summer can backfire spectacularly. In the case of the Philadelphia 76ers, their long-term planning paid off when they successfully lured Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The beauty of being able to sign George outright is that Philly preserved its depth for the most part. In addition to getting the nine-time All-Star, the Sixers signed Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin and Eric Gordon and retained Kelly Oubre Jr. to fortify their supporting cast.
Injuries will obviously be a massive question mark. Last year was the first time George made 70-plus appearances in his five-year run with the Clippers. Joel Embiid, meanwhile, only made 39 appearances and seemingly hasn't been totally healthy for any of his team's playoff runs.
Still, the trio of Boston, New York and Philadelphia are shaping up to be the three strongest teams in the East. Season Forecast It will be interesting to see if head coach Tom Thibodeau deviates from the norm at all with how he leans on his starters in the regular season. Drawing a straight line between player usage and the sheer volume of injuries that piled up for the Knicks toward the end of 2023-24 would be unfair .
Still, Thibodeau teams peaking in the regular season and coming up short in the postseason has been a running theme throughout his coaching career. It might be time for the 66-year-old to adapt because winning 50-plus games and losing in the first or second round won't cut it anymore for the Knicks. Even if it means sacrificing a few victories and seeding, managing his players' workloads more closely could pay big dividends when it counts.
The Knicks have a high baseline as long as their key stars avoid any major injuries. This is a roster that's stronger overall despite losing Isaiah Hartenstein and Bojan Bogdanović thanks to Bridges' arrival. Having OG Anunoby for a full season will make a difference as well.
Record Prediction: 56-26.
