5 questions facing the Knicks in the offseason
Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks warms up prior to Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Getty Images
After the Knicks made the huge moves last summer to obtain Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, most observers referred to it as the all-in moves to chase a title. And early in the season, a member of the Knicks front office was quick to remind that just like with the salary-cap machinations that allowed them to get Towns, there are ways to make moves when on paper it looks difficult. That’s recalled now to make the point that maybe all-in is not as final as it sounded on the eve of training camp. Last summer’s moves helped the Knicks to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a quarter century, but there are still questions that need to be addressed now.
1. The Mikal Bridges mystery
The Knicks dealt a boatload of draft picks for Bridges — a tempting enough package to trigger the first trade between the Knicks and Nets since 1983. And now one year in there are questions. Bridges has had his moments, including in huge spots in the postseason, especially at the end of wins against the Celtics. He is offensively and defensively talented and seemingly impervious to the questions and criticism that surrounded him in his first season with the Knicks. Not tough enough. Not the sort of star you trade five first-round picks for.
He shook off enough of those questions to spur a meme throughout the postseason that can’t be reprinted here, but let’s just paraphrase and say it meant, forget about those picks. So forget those picks and consider the real question: is Bridges part of the answer for the window the Knicks have to try to capture a title? That’s a big question because Bridges is eligible for a four-year, $156 million contract extension this summer.
The Knicks front office says little publicly, but from watching their history you can surmise that if they don’t want to give an extension they have moved players — see Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley among others as examples. So do they believe that Bridges can be the two-way wing he was brought in to be — the player who scored 41 points on Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden, who ended a day that began with an uncomfortable rift with Tom Thibodeau with a 33-point night and the game-winning shot, and who aggressively helped beat Boston with game-saving defensive stops?
Sunk cost is hard to accept, but if the Knicks think he’s not the one, taking back some return is better than a long journey you know is on the wrong path. If the Knicks decide he’s not the one, do they have the stomach to take less back than they paid last summer?
2. Does a contract extension mean security for Tom Thibodeau?
It’s hard to imagine that we even have to have this discussion. Thibodeau took the Knicks from a laughingstock franchise, one that spent most of the season planning for the lottery for decades, and brought them to the postseason four of five seasons, to the conference semifinals for two straight years and then onto the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a quarter century this season — and has already been given a contract extension that kicks in next season.
Shouldn’t that stop all the chatter about his job security?
The Garden is a strange place with a lot of factions and voices, but the ones that are in the locker room know that Thibodeau is a tireless worker who has brought stability and structure to the team. The minutes criticism was countered by the results: Players who were dedicated and conditioned and relatively injury-free. The finger pointers should be ignored. Are there things that Thibodeau or his staff could do better? Sure. Are there other coaches who might be offensive gurus who have other flaws? Yes. The Knicks have stability for once. Don’t spoil that.
3. Are they still chasing stars?
The Knicks were supposed to be beyond this, dedicated to building a structure and sticking to it. But you will hear rumors this summer about Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, superstars who are likely going to be moved in the next few months. There may be regrets over the pieces sent out last summer — after patiently accumulating assets for years — when they could have been used now, but that has already passed. Would the Knicks still give up any piece they have for Antetokounmpo? Just like almost any other organization and any player requested by the Milwaukee Bucks, they likely would. The 36-year-old Durant, with his age, is a different story. But the Bucks can do better than what the Knicks can put together, so this is very unlikely to be more than just fantasy basketball.
4. What is the next step for the roster?
So, if the Knicks don’t go star-hunting, what is the logical path? Jalen Brunson, Bridges, Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride, the seven core pieces, are all under contract for next season. The veterans on the bench beyond that are all free agents and a few figure to be certainly somewhere else.
Precious Achiuwa nearly was gone last summer and is likely out this time. P.J. Tucker has a team option and unless he comes back on a cheaper deal (eligible to drop from $3.5 million to $2.2 million), his role as just motivational leader with no on-court contribution is hard to justify. Landry Shamet was praised from training camp by Thibodeau and was useful in the end. The Knicks could move a player like Robinson or Hart to obtain depth — or clear cap space safely away from the second apron, allowing the team to bring in veterans who could contribute now.
The rookies contributed little this season and that’s no surprise with their age and backgrounds. But the Knicks need to know which of them can be part of the rotation and move on from the rest.
5. Can they get better standing pat?
Here is the reality: It takes time for players to adapt to life with Thibodeau. But those who buy in almost invariably improve. If veteran players like Anunoby, Towns and Bridges can figure out how to star in their roles on both ends of the court that might be enough to push the Knicks up another step.
But more than that the Knicks need to figure out their part in getting the most out of this roster. Is Hart better on the bench where he began his Knicks career and ended the postseason? Is Robinson going to be able to stay healthy and play alongside Towns all season long? Will a rookie from this year’s team step forward?
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
