The New York Knicks are getting an early boost in the NBA’s offseason rankings, and they’ve managed to stay just ahead of a major new threat in the Eastern Conference.
That threat comes from the Philadelphia 76ers, who signed veteran LeBron James to their roster. The move immediately reshaped the landscape for the Knicks, especially with James now set to bring his drive and star power to a key rival. Even so, the Knicks still came out on top in one early look at the conference hierarchy.
John Schuhmann of the NBA’s official website released his offseason power rankings for 2026 and put the Knicks at No. 1 in the East, with the 76ers right behind them at No. 2. That’s notable for New York, even after the loss of Mitchell Robinson.
Schuhmann also pointed to just how strong the Knicks were in the postseason, while questioning whether that level can really last.
"The Knicks were the only team that scored more efficiently in the 2026 playoffs than in the regular season," he states in the piece. "The defense was also improved and, statistically, they were the best playoff team in NBA history, outscoring their opponents by 14.9 points per game over their 19 postseason games."
"They can't play that well over a full season, but they could surely carry over some level of chemistry and execution to improve upon their third-place finish in the East," he adds.
For now, the Knicks have the edge in the rankings. And with James now in Philadelphia, the race in the East already has a different look.
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That matters because any real pursuit of a star of that caliber would have come with a steep price in both money and pieces, the kind of move that usually forces a team to part with key starters. Instead, the championship has made the Knicks look far less desperate for a splash, and it has also changed the way the league views their offseason path, with the biggest question now being whether New York even wants to keep chasing that kind of upgrade at all. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Just Got Pulled Into A Wild LeBron And Giannis Twist
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Both stars were linked to New York in reports, but the Knicks never moved aggressively once their own championship status gave them a different kind of leverage. LeBron wound up with the 76ers and Giannis was sent to the Heat, leaving the Knicks to watch two headline swings land elsewhere while they kept their focus on defending what they already had. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Silence On Two-Way Deals Has Fans Watching The Frontcourt Closely
The Knicks still have two-way contract openings sitting untouched, and the silence has started to feel deliberate rather than accidental. With rookies and other fringe candidates available, the front office has left itself room to sort through the back end of the roster while keeping an eye on a bigger need up front, a sign this could be more about timing than indecision.
Liam Robbins, Trey Jemison, Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel are among the names in the mix for those spots, while Kevin McCullar Jr. has been pushed away from that conversation. The more interesting part is what the Knicks may be waiting on before they move, because their frontcourt search has not been limited to the margins and those two-way decisions could still be tied to a larger swing elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]