The Knicks’ Path to the Finals Just Got Trickier - Especially if Boston Makes a Big Move
For a while, it looked like this might finally be the year the New York Knicks made the leap. A quarter-century removed from their last NBA Finals appearance, they entered this season with momentum, continuity, and a clear lane in the Eastern Conference.
With several contenders dealing with injuries or inconsistency, the door seemed wide open. But now, not only are the Knicks stumbling, their fiercest rival might be gearing up for a major move that could tilt the balance of power in the East.
Let’s start with the Knicks. Early on, they looked like a team ready to take control of the conference.
Three playoff teams from last year lost stars to Achilles injuries. The Cavaliers haven’t found their rhythm.
Orlando’s been banged up and hasn’t taken that next step. And Detroit, while talented, is still young and learning how to win.
That left New York with a golden opportunity to assert itself as the top dog in the East.
But the last few weeks have told a different story.
The Knicks have gone 2-8 in their last 10 games and now sit just two games above the Play-In line. Injuries have disrupted their rotation, and the post-NBA Cup hangover has hit them hard.
Whatever early-season swagger they had has faded. They still have time to get back on track, but the clock is ticking - and the road just got bumpier.
Because while the Knicks are trying to rediscover their form, the Boston Celtics are quietly (or not so quietly) becoming a problem again.
Despite losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles, the Celtics are thriving. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White have stepped up in a big way.
Rookie Jordan Walsh has been a surprise contributor. Neemias Queta and Hugo Gonzalez are giving them solid minutes.
This wasn’t supposed to be a contending year for Boston - some expected them to take a step back, maybe even shed salary to reset their luxury tax penalties. But now?
They’re sitting in second place in the East and reportedly looking to add.
And not just anyone - they’ve got their eyes on Jaren Jackson Jr.
According to recent reports, Boston has reached out to Memphis about the former Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson isn’t officially on the trade block, but with the Grizzlies looking to retool, it’s not out of the question that they’d listen to the right offer. If Boston pulls this off, the ripple effects across the East could be massive.
Let’s break it down.
The Celtics’ biggest question mark right now is at center. Queta and offseason addition Luka Garza have held their own, but neither has proven it in the playoffs.
That’s the one soft spot in an otherwise battle-tested core. Insert Jackson - a floor-spacing big who can protect the rim, switch onto guards, and knock down threes - and suddenly that gap disappears.
He’s the kind of two-way force who could raise Boston’s ceiling from “dangerous” to “title favorite,” especially with Tatum expected back before the postseason.
This is the same formula that helped Boston win the championship in 2024: elite wing play, versatile defense, and a big who can stretch the floor and anchor the paint. Jackson would give them all of that in one player. He’s not just a fit - he’s a potential game-changer.
And for the Knicks? That’s bad news.
Even without Jackson, Boston is already a tough out. Add him to the mix, and the Knicks - or anyone else in the East - will be facing a juggernaut.
Detroit’s on the rise, Cleveland’s still lurking, and Philly has real upside if they get healthy. But Boston, with Jackson and a returning Tatum?
That’s a mountain.
New York’s still in the mix. They’ve got talent, they’ve got depth, and they’ve shown flashes of being a real contender.
But if the Celtics land Jaren Jackson Jr., the margin for error shrinks dramatically. The Knicks need to get healthy, find their rhythm, and hope that Boston’s trade talks stall out.
Otherwise, what once looked like a breakthrough season could turn into another chapter of “almost” in New York.