Frustrating Playoff Exit Potentially Leads Knicks to Consider Roster Adjustments
The New York Knicks winded up in a sticky situation this past offseason, splurging on superstars Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, only to face another Eastern Conference Finals defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. With a loaded offseason ahead and a tight cap, big decisions are on the horizon for the Big Apple squad.
First things first, the Knicks have a couple of unprotected first-round picks in 2026 and 2028, including the potential to shake things up via trades. It'll take an asset like Towns, with a hefty salary of over $50 million over the next two years, to sweeten any deal.
Ditching Towns' Cap-heavy Deal
Towns showed promise throughout the playoffs with his scoring abilities, but the pairing of him and franchise cornerstone Jalen Brunson wasn't a winning formula, resulting in negative postseason net ratings when both were on the court. The Knicks performed their best when KAT was on the floor and Brunson was off, and their defense suffered significantly when the stars were in at the same time.
To escape the pending cap jail, the Knicks should offload Towns now, while his stock remains relatively high, to a team eager to take on his salary.
Enter the Charlotte Hornets in a trade involving power forward Miles Bridges and center Jusuf Nurkic. A move like this would help the Knicks part ways with Nurkic at the end of next season, while potentially trading Bridges too if he has a strong season with the Knicks.
Overhauling the Frontcourt
Another option for the Knicks is trading the contracts of guard Josh Hart and center Mitchell Robinson for possible youth and depth in the frontcourt. Hart's hustle and grit make him beloved by many, but his poor postseason shooting performances leave something to be desired.
The Knicks boast a new roster of wings, including Bridges and O.G. Anunoby, who offer solid offensive and defensive contributions, making Hart's presence less necessary. Robinson's health concerns and limited minutes due to conditioning and injury management also suggest a trade may be in order.
A potential trade partner could be the Utah Jazz for the rights to center Walker Kessler and power forward John Collins. Kessler and Collins would bring a fresh infusion of youth and depth to the Knicks' frontcourt alongside potential flexibility in case they decide to part ways with Towns.
Enrichment data: The Knicks are facing financial challenges due to Towns' massive contract and need to explore various options, such as trading valuable players like Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart, to increase roster flexibility and improve team chemistry. Acquiring more draft picks is another strategy for building a sustainable future, while managing cap issues is crucial to remaining competitive in free agency. Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz are potential trade partners.
- In an attempt to alleviate their financial challenges, the New York Knicks might seek to trade Karl-Anthony Towns, whose hefty salary remains a concern, to a team willing to take on his contract.
- To improve their frontcourt and address health concerns, the Knicks could consider trading Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart for youth and depth, such as center Walker Kessler and power forward John Collins from the Utah Jazz, potentially setting the stage for a roster overhaul.
