After reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000, the New York Knicks’ miraculous playoff run came to an end following a six-game series loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Heading into the playoffs, people were skeptical about how the Knicks would perform against the top teams in the league after finishing the regular season 0-10 against 60-win teams: the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Thunder.
The Knicks shut down this narrative in the postseason, defeating the defending champion Boston Celtics 4-2 in the second round. While they didn’t make it to the Finals, this run brought fans excitement and hope that they hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Now that they’re eliminated, the focus for the Knicks has shifted to the offseason, and the front office has many different decisions to evaluate.
Who will take over as head coach?
Despite leading the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, head coach Tom Thibodeau was fired on Tuesday. During his five-year tenure, Thibodeau won Coach of the Year in 2021 and led the Knicks to three straight playoff appearances. This decision was announced shortly after the team was eliminated, expressing their desire to move in a different direction for the future. The offseason just began for the Knicks, and following a season in which four other head coaches were fired, they have time and various options to find their next leader.
What’s next for Karl-Anthony Towns in New York?
During the 2024 offseason, the Knicks made a blockbuster trade by acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a 2025 first-round pick that originally belonged to the Pistons. This trade filled a big hole at center, but hindered the Knicks’ depth and defense.
While Towns had a successful regular season, earning his first appearance as an All-Star starter and All-NBA Third Team recognition, his performance in the playoffs raised a lot of questions about the Knicks’ ceiling with him on the roster.
Towns is the highest-paid player on the Knicks, making approximately $57 million next season and holding a player option for $61 million the following year. Due to this massive contract, it’s difficult for the Knicks to reconstruct the roster while Towns is eating up their salary. With superstars like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo in trade talks, the Knicks can use Towns as a trade piece to potentially land a top talent.
How can the Knicks increase their bench depth?
Although coach Tom Thibodeau was notorious for giving his starters heavy minutes, there will always be moments in the game when the bench players are called upon.
Throughout the postseason, the Knicks had a consistent seven-man rotation they relied on. When Thibs had to go deeper into his rotation, the lack of depth was put on display as the Pacers’ bench outscored the Knicks’ bench in every game of the series.
With Jalen Brunson making $156 million over the next four seasons and KAT’s contract being expendable, the Knicks can afford to bring in some players that can shine off the bench when their numbers are called.
What should the Knicks do with Mikal Bridges?
Heading into the offseason, Bridges is one of the more fascinating names to watch. The Knicks acquired him last offseason for a haul, sending five first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets. Trading five first-round picks for any player is a large investment for the future, especially for someone who has yet to make an All-Star Game.
Bridges is under contract for next season and will then hit free agency. If the Knicks think he can be a cornerstone on a championship team, they can extend his contract this offseason while his value isn’t too high.
Does defense win championships?
Throughout the postseason, the Knicks defense looked defeated and inconsistent. OG Anunoby and Bridges are great defensive wings, but opponents would orchestrate their offense around targeting the weaker links.
Although Brunson and Towns are great on offense, their lack of defensive impact hurts the team overall. In the conference final, the Pacers took advantage of both Towns and Brunson by isolating them. With defensive-minded players like Myles Turner and Nickeil Alexander-Walker looking for new contracts, the Knicks have various routes they can take in solving their defensive struggles.
