The Knicks finally climbed the mountain, and now the East has spent the summer making sure the view from the top is ugly.
New York celebrated a title after 53 years without one, but the bigger story heading into the next run is what Philadelphia did to the division around them. The 76ers brought in Jaylen Brown and LeBron James to join a core that already had Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. That is enough to make the Atlantic feel a lot less like a soft landing and a lot more like a fight.
The Knicks did plenty of work of their own. They brought back Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, Mohamed Diawara and Landry Shamet, then added Andre Drummond to back up Karl-Anthony Towns.
That is a legitimate group, and it looks like the kind of roster that expects to matter again. The title wasn’t a fluke, and the front office didn’t act like it was.
But Philadelphia’s moves changed the temperature. Brown leaving Boston for the 76ers and LeBron following him turned an already dangerous opponent into something even louder.
The league’s own outlook labeled the division shakeup a major one, and that feels right. When the Knicks face Philly, they won’t just be seeing a regular division game.
They’ll be looking at a team assembled to go after the top spot in the conference.
That should be fine in New York. If anything, it fits.
This group has already done the hardest part. Jalen Brunson is the Finals MVP.
Towns, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are back. Drummond adds another veteran rebounder after Mitchell Robinson left in free agency.
The Knicks have the recent evidence, the closing power and the championship banner to show for it.
So no, there’s no reason to panic because another team made noise in July. The Knicks own the standard now. The real test is whether they can keep it while the East gets meaner around them.
In Other News...
Knicks Still Have One Roster Problem They Can't Afford To Patch
The Knicks still have work to do behind Karl-Anthony Towns, and its the kind of roster issue that can linger until the front office decides it no longer can. Backup center has become a clear spot to monitor, with New York looking for a big who can give the second unit some stability without forcing a major overhaul elsewhere on the roster.
There are a few places to watch if the Knicks keep hunting on the trade market, and the field is wide enough to keep this from feeling like a one-team problem. Charlotte, Portland and Sacramento all have frontcourt pieces that could fit what New York needs, with several names on the board as possible answers if the Knicks decide this is the moment to act. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Moved On From A Young Talent Knicks Could Still Unlock
The Knicks still have room to keep tinkering with the back end of the roster, with five spots open and a mix of standard and two-way options available. That kind of flexibility matters this time of year, especially for a team that is trying to balance immediate depth with the longer-term search for a player who can be developed into something more.
Cam Whitmore is one of the more intriguing names in that lane after being waived by Cleveland, and he would fit the profile of a low-risk swing on a young talent with upside. He has already logged three NBA seasons, but consistency has remained the question, which is exactly why a Knicks staff that has shown interest in finding value where other teams have moved on could have a decision to make. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face An Early Roster Squeeze Fans Will Notice
As the Knicks head toward the start of the season, a few familiar contract questions are already hanging over the roster. Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride are among the players eligible for extensions, but reports indicate the front office is not expected to move quickly before opening night, with cap management and bigger-picture roster planning shaping the timeline.
The bigger issue for New York may be that patience can come with a cost. Delaying talks keeps the Knicks flexible, but it also leaves notable decisions unresolved while the organization has already seen assistant coach Jordan Brink depart for the Bulls and did not retain Gersson Rosas after his contract expired. For a team trying to stay steady around the edges, the next few weeks could say a lot about how aggressively it wants to lock in its future. [Read more 🡒]