The Knicks have put themselves in a spot where even the idea of LeBron James doesn’t automatically change the equation.
That was the takeaway from Kirk Goldsberry during a recent appearance on The Zach Lowe Show, where the veteran NBA analyst weighed in on the rumor that James could end up back with the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason. Goldsberry said he has no insider information, but added that "it's always felt like Cleveland" as the likeliest place for James to play out his 24 and, presumably, final season in the league.
Still, Goldsberry didn’t buy the idea that a Cleveland reunion would be enough to knock New York off the top of the East.
"I wouldn't pick them to win the East [if they add LeBron]. I think New York deserves all the respect in the world," Goldsberry said.
That confidence comes with good reason. In the 2025 conference finals, the Knicks rolled past the Cavaliers in a 4-0 sweep on their way to a 16-3 championship run. Goldsberry pointed to that stretch as evidence that New York spent the back half of the season "really figuring out some stuff," and he compared the Knicks’ title to Steve Kerr’s first championship with the Warriors, saying it "set up years two and three" for more conference and league-wide dominance.
He did acknowledge that James would make Cleveland a tougher out. Against New York in that third-round matchup, Goldsberry said LeBron would have made the Cavs a "hell of a lot more dangerous." But even with James back in the fold, he still leaned toward the Knicks to represent the East in the 2027 NBA Finals, saying he "would take the Knicks."
If James does leave Los Angeles, the East appears to be where the best fits are. Goldsberry mentioned the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers as legitimate threats to land the superstar forward in free agency.
For now, though, the Knicks remain the team to beat in the conference, and Goldsberry made it clear he sees them as the most likely East club to get back to the title round.
In Other News...
Knicks Just Got A New Eastern Conference Warning Sign
The Sixers have suddenly turned a major Eastern Conference conversation into a much bigger one, landing Jaylen Brown to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. For a Knicks team trying to climb the same ladder, that kind of star power changes the feel of the race in a hurry, especially when the new group already has the kind of scoring and versatility that can stress a defense in a playoff series.
Kevin Durant added to the buzz by publicly calling Philadelphias new look dangerous and saying he was happy for Brown, a reaction that only sharpened the attention around the move. The bigger question for New York is how this reshaped Sixers roster will look once the games start to matter most, because the East just added another contender with a trio built to make life difficult for everyone else. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Suddenly Sit At Center Of Two Massive East Storylines
The Eastern Conference picture around the Knicks keeps shifting in ways that matter well beyond one offseason. Jalen Brunsons revelation that he played through a wrist injury that later needed surgery adds another layer to the run New York just made, especially after a playoff series that already carried so much weight in the East. Around that, the Cavaliers are not only dealing with their own postseason ripple effects, but also sitting near the center of a leaguewide conversation that has quickly become impossible to ignore.
Mike Ganseys move into the Sixers top job and the immediate push to reshape the roster with Jaylen Brown has already changed the temperature in the conference, while LeBron James pending free agency decision is looming over every contender watching the East. The Cavaliers, Sixers and Heat are all being mentioned as teams with interest, which only adds to the sense that the next few days could alter the balance of power again. For the Knicks, it is another reminder that finishing one season is only the start of the next test. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Have One Big Question Behind Towns And Drummond
The Knicks have already addressed one of the biggest holes in their frontcourt by bringing in Andre Drummond on a one-year deal, but the work around the center spot does not feel finished. After losing Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti from last seasons championship group, New York is still looking at ways to add size, insurance and a little more defensive presence behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Drummond.
One name that keeps surfacing is Trey Jemison III, who spent last season on a two-way contract and showed enough in limited action to keep him in the conversation. His appeal is simple enough for a roster built on depth: he can protect the rim, rebound and give the Knicks another big body if injuries or foul trouble hit, even if he is not expected to be part of the regular rotation. [Read more 🡒]