Jalen Brunson may not be saying it out loud, but he’s probably smiling at the news out of Cleveland.
The Cavaliers locked up James Harden on Thursday, agreeing to a three-year, $97 million deal for the 36-year-old guard that reportedly includes a player option and a trade kicker. For Brunson, that means the defender who seemed to show up possession after possession in the Eastern Conference Finals isn’t going anywhere soon.
That matchup was hard to miss in Game 1. The Knicks opened the series at home with a huge rest advantage, built a 22-point lead, and still watched Cleveland claw back before New York escaped with a win.
It was the kind of night that set the tone for what would become the Knicks’ second-most impressive comeback of the postseason. Their biggest rally came one round and three games later against the San Antonio Spurs.
And once the game started slipping into that familiar comeback rhythm, Harden kept appearing in the same role. Brunson brought the ball up.
Harden picked him up. Brunson scored anyway.
Over and over, it felt like the same scene on repeat.
The bigger picture still favors New York, even with Cleveland making sure Harden sticks around. The Eastern Conference was already the stronger conference last season, and this offseason has done little to change that outlook for 2027. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown were dealt in-conference, and LeBron James moved on from the West after an eight-year stay in Hollywood.
It’s also easy to overlook that Cleveland was in the Eastern Conference Finals at all, especially after the Knicks swept them and finished the series with what was becoming a trademark blowout. Donovan Mitchell and Harden’s group got there by beating the Detroit Pistons, a team that had given the Knicks problems during the regular season, before running into New York.
Cleveland’s frontcourt pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen gives the Cavaliers a different kind of size and coverage. You could make the case the Knicks were the only Eastern team last season with a similar setup, thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.
But with only half of that duo back, Mike Brown will need OG Anunoby and Josh Hart to stay especially flexible on defense. Even so, with Brunson, Towns, and the rest of their core still in place, the Knicks remain the team to beat in the conference, even with a slightly revamped Cavaliers roster across from them.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Gave Knicks Fans Another Reason To Doubt Them
The Cavaliers have been active in reshaping their roster, first landing Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade and then adding James Harden on a long-term deal as they keep pushing to strengthen the group around their core. For Knicks fans, it is hard not to look at the move with a familiar mix of relief and skepticism, especially with Harden now another year older and still carrying the sort of questions that tend to follow him this deep into his career.
Hardens recent conference finals showing against New York only adds to the unease around Clevelands bet. Even before the financial commitment is fully unpacked, the fit and the long-range value are already under the microscope, and the Knicks can only watch as a rival takes on a massive gamble that may or may not age cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Mikal Bridges Is Chasing Rare NBA History Knicks Fans Should Track
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The streak also gives Bridges a place in a different kind of history chase. He owns the second-longest run to begin a career without missing a game, and he already passed Andre Miller for the best such start since 2000. For Knicks fans, the interesting part is not just how far he has come, but how rare it would be for him to keep climbing if his body cooperates over the next couple of seasons. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Have One Roster Battle Worth Watching In Camp
The Knicks still have one roster spot worth monitoring as camp approaches, and it sits at a position where depth can disappear in a hurry. New York has not settled its third-string center job yet, which means the last big man on the roster could be chosen the old-fashioned way, by competing in training camp and proving he can help in a limited role.
One name in the mix is Julian Reese, whose rebounding profile makes him an appealing non-guaranteed camp option. His game has drawn an Andre Drummond comparison because of how he impacts the glass, and his recent work with Washington only adds to the sense that he could fit New Yorks roster strategy if the team wants a rugged, rebound-first presence tucked behind its main rotation. [Read more 🡒]