There’s a good argument to be made that the Knicks should run it back with their current core in 2025/26 while just making some tweaks around the edges of their roster, Chris Mannix writes in a column for SI.com. Mannix notes that continuity is “a key to success in today’s NBA” and suggests the Knicks could benefit from the current group getting a second year under its belts after undergoing some major changes ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Still, the Knicks’ front office is expected to consider all its options and explore the possibility of taking a bigger swing if the right opportunity arises, ESPN’s Shams Charania said during a Monday appearance on SportsCenter (YouTube link; hat tip to RealGM).
“I’m told the Knicks have internal meetings (scheduled) this week to evaluate everything from the roster (to) different changes they could make around everything, but especially the roster,” Charania said. “… Knicks president Leon Rose has gone out and gotten OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns. I expect him to be just as aggressive this offseason, whether it’s a landmark player that you could bring in there or definitely depth on that bench.
“(Head coach) Tom Thibodeau called it a very important offseason coming up, and this is a team that has won 50-plus games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the early ’90s. Four of his five seasons as head coach, they’ve made it to the playoffs, so it’s been a successful run. Jalen Brunson (is) fully supportive. That front office is fully supportive of Tom Thibodeau as well. But I do expect them to be very active and aggressive on the roster.”
After acquiring Bridges and Towns last offseason, the Knicks no longer have many draft assets to offer up in trades, so if the club makes another major deal this summer, the outgoing package would likely have to be heavy on player value.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Discussing New York’s potential offseason options during the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Tim Bontemps pointed to Al Horford as an example of the kind of free agent who might be attainable and would improve the club’s depth. “I don’t think at this point it makes a lot of sense for Al Horford to be back in Boston,” Bontemps said (hat tip to MassLive.com). “Maybe he will be, but given where things are with the Celtics, I think he’s now much more in play than he might have been a month ago. Al Horford is a longtime friend of Karl-Anthony Towns and has played with him with the Dominican national team for a long time. If they go get Al Horford this summer – who I think would be an unbelievable fit on this Knicks roster – and they go get another perimeter player to deepen their rotation…that’s a much better team. That’s a team that could beat the Pacers next year. That’s a team that’ll be in the mix in the East.”
- Brunson’s decision to accept a more team-friendly extension last summer instead of waiting until this offseason to sign a new, more lucrative free agent contract should begin to pay dividends for the Knicks in July, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, who observes that the team can operate under the second tax apron due to Brunson’s lower 2025/26 salary. That means New York will be able to aggregate salaries in trades and should have the taxpayer mid-level exception available to work with in free agency.
- After an up-and-down first season in New York, Bridges will be extension-eligible this offseason, which raises a couple of key questions, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. First, is Bridges still enthusiastic about a long-term future with the Knicks after facing so much criticism and scrutiny in year one? And if so, are the Knicks comfortable with the idea of offering him an extension that could be worth up to $156MM over four years?
Move Mikal to the SG spot, Hart turns into a sixth man with Mitchell Robinson, OG to SF.
Trade Kolek, Dadiet, Ariel H, PJ Tucker with picks for a PF starter from the age of 29+. Sign veterans and minimum contracts
Do you have a PF in mind? List is kind of limited.
I had to look at every roster, not many options. Jonas Valančiūnas, Brandon Clarke, Herbert Jones and Gafford or PJ Washington. That’s it, PF’s or C’s that could work
They are basically out of good picks, and I dont think any teams value Kolek etc as anything. So not sure anyones giving you a PF for that mess. PJ is out of contract and would have to be resigned to be traded.
The starting lineup you proposed is the mediocre one from the playoffs that got played off the floor with Bridges at like -61.
Prime Carmelo would work. They lack a alpha, a number 1
What if they offered that for PJ Washington?
Yes Tucker would be resigned for the deal to work
Tucker is worthless a healthy scratch on a playoff team. Like literally going to be unsigned as a vet min this year. Also doing a sign and trade which is the only option would complicate the other teams CBA restrictions.
They have no tradable firsts. The protected Wizards pick will not convey and will be 2 seconds.
You have former draft picks that cant earn min so they have no value.
Whats the offer for PJ that any other interested team doesnt just instantly beat?
I guess those calling for Thibs to get fired will be disappointed.
They need help at the 1 and 5 bench positions to get better. Horford could be a difference maker in an even weaker east next season.
Thibs needs to do what Jerry Sloan did playing is starters around 32 minutes a night. He needs to adjust just like Kerr needs to play an actual C out there
“(Head coach) Tom Thibodeau called it a very important offseason coming up, and this is a team that has won 50-plus games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the early ’90s. Four of his five seasons as head coach, they’ve made it to the playoffs, so it’s been a successful run. Jalen Brunson (is) fully supportive. That front office is fully supportive of Tom Thibodeau as well. But I do expect them to be very active and aggressive on the roster.”
This didn’t age well!
Wonder if Ben Simmons is a option for the Knicks.
Have him as a point forward and playmaker.
Brunson gets to play a little more off ball and as a shooter. KAT as a centre that spaces the floor and a really good defensive trio of Mikal OG and Ben.
Maybe abit of a reach but last season he showed glimpses of being decent with the Clippers.
If not the bright lights on NY then maybe San Antonio with a centre like Wemby for floor spacing and rim protection although Dylan Harper has a similar skillset