NBA Power Rankings: Where Are the Knicks?
The New York Knicks are coming off their best season in over a decade but now they have to build off of the generated momentum.
New York still has room to grow this offseason in order to get to the promised land, leading Bleacher Report to place them 11th in their "Way-Too-Soon" power rankings for the 2023-24 season.
"The New York Knicks have a bona fide playoff star in Jalen Brunson. One year after helping Luka (Dončić) and the (Dallas) Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals, Brunson put up 27.8 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.4 threes in his first 11 postseason games as a Knick," Andy Bailey writes. "With him, All-NBA forward Julius Randle, Quentin Grimes, Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickle, and a hopefully still developing RJ Barrett all under contract for next season, New York should push into the high 40s in wins again."
"Becoming a legitimate title contender may require the Knicks to push in some of their future picks in a deal to put another star next to Brunson, but staying their current course should make them one of the East's tougher tests."
The Knicks could run it back with their core, and it will likely land them back in the playoffs. However, whether or not they will advance any further than they did this year is a legitimate question.
Perhaps the Knicks can swing a trade that could land them a player that could elevate their ceiling, like Paul George or Karl-Anthony Towns, but it would be a risk since every "star" on the trade block ended up failing to reach the championship last season. If that's the case, then why would they help the Knicks get there?
However, risks are necessary to win in the NBA, and New York has to take one or two this offseason to move up the power rankings ... and across the playoff bracket.
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