Mike Brown doesn’t need October exhibitions to figure out what Jalen Brunson brings. He already knows that. What he does need is a real look at the Knicks’ supporting cast, and preseason is where that evaluation starts.
Brown said the team will ease its starters into preseason play, though he did not spell out any exact minute restrictions. That should open the door for the bench and the camp additions to spend more time together after a long postseason run, giving the Knicks a better read on the players battling for roles behind the top five.
That group has plenty to prove. Tyler Kolek gets another shot to show he can steady a second unit, while the reserve bigs are fighting for a spot that could end up mattering once the season starts.
Practice can only tell so much. Game action, even in preseason, is a more useful test.
The biggest question is who can organize the offense when Brunson is off the floor. After that comes the frontcourt puzzle: which combinations can hold up when Karl-Anthony Towns is not doing the heavy lifting on the scoring end. Brown can sort through those options now without sacrificing meaningful minutes from his core players.
Tony Bradley’s arrival this week only adds to that competition. He joins James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks in the battle for center minutes, and none of them has been told he has a regular rotation spot locked up. Preseason is the right time to see which one can defend, rebound and keep the offense flowing alongside New York’s established pieces.
There’s no reason to turn this into a starter crisis. Giving the regulars a lighter preseason workload is standard preparation, not a sign of alarm.
The Knicks already know what they have in Brunson and Towns. The real decisions are deeper on the roster.
How those extra minutes are handled could shape Brown’s options in November. For some players, a strong showing will open doors. For others, it will make the picture a lot clearer.
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Knicks Hire Could Matter If Frontcourt Plans Are Still Alive
The Knicks have filled a small but potentially useful spot on the bench by hiring Ed Flynn as their new video replay challenger, a move that comes after Jordan Brink departed for Chicago. Flynn arrives with recent Pelicans experience, having worked in New Orleans video department, which gives New York a fresh set of eyes and some built-in familiarity with a roster the Knicks have already monitored closely.
That background could matter if the Knicks keep pursuing frontcourt help from New Orleans, where interest has already been noted in centers Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic. No deal has come together, and the Pelicans have not been willing to move either player yet, but Flynns hire at least adds another wrinkle to a conversation that may not be finished. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Center Battle Just Got More Crowded Than Fans Expected
Tony Bradley has arrived at Knicks training camp as the team takes a hard look at its center depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. For a roster that wants dependable minutes at the five over the long haul, this is one of the quieter but more important position battles on the floor, especially with the season approaching and the front office still sorting out what the bench can provide.
Bradley enters a crowded mix, and the next stretch of preseason play will matter as the staff tries to figure out which big man can best handle the reserve duties. The Knicks do not need flash here nearly as much as stability, and how this rotation takes shape could say plenty about how they intend to protect their starters through the grind of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Never Had The LeBron Opening Fans Were Hoping For
LeBron James is set to have a major role with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year contract, and for Knicks fans who spent time imagining a different ending, the latest reporting mostly confirms what had been drifting into view. There was speculation about a possible New York landing spot, but the idea never appeared to gain much traction, especially as James has sounded comfortable with the Sixers and the roster around him after their trade for Jaylen Brown.
The lingering question is why the Knicks never really became more than a talking point. A push from New York might have opened the door to a real conversation, but the sense around the league was that the path to a reunion with that kind of star power never fully reopened. For a team still chasing the biggest swing on the market, it leaves another reminder that not every dream scenario ever gets close to becoming one. [Read more 🡒]