After striking a blockbuster deal to acquire Cities of Karl-Anthony of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Knicks are all-in on a championship. But making a trade of this magnitude increases the pressure.
There is some pressure on cities to integrate. There is also pressure on the front office to make the trade go well. Arguably, much of the pressure will fall on the Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau to make everything work. It will be the most important test the manager has faced since signing with the club in 2020.
After leading the Knicks to two playoff victories and a 175-143 record after four seasons, Thibodeau signed a three-year contract extension this will keep him with the Knicks through the 2027-28 season. Thibodeau has taken the Knicks to the greatest success the franchise has seen in the last two decades.
Over the last four years, the Knicks have gone from playoff-happy to contender. With pretender status comes expectations. New York’s moves to acquire Towns and Mikal Bridges put the club in the spotlight. The Knicks likely enter the season with the highest expectations for the franchise since the turn of the century.
The addition of Towns is a huge talent upgrade for the Knicks, but it also takes Thibodeau out of his comfort zone as a coach. During his four-year tenure, Thibodeau found success with a low-usage center focused on offensive rebounds and rim protection. Since the 2020-21 season, no Knicks starting center has averaged more than 8.5 points.
With a career average of 22.9 points in nine years, Towns is completely different. He is an elite scoring center who wreaks havoc on opposing defenses on the outside and inside. Thibodeau is tasked with finding ways to use Towns in the best possible role and establishing a pick-and-roll partnership between the big man and Jalen Brunson hmm.
Adapting to new staff
Towns’ ability to space the court as a three-point shooter is great for the offense but could impact the team’s ability to dominate on the offensive glass. The Knicks have been one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the NBA over the past four years. The team finished first in second chance points per 100 possessions in the regular season and playoffs, according to NBA statistics. Teams generally don’t dominate the offensive glass when their seven-foot center is spotted deep.
Offensive caroms and a low turnover rate helped the club reach the top 10 in offensive efficiency, despite being a below-average shooting efficiency team. New York finished 20th in true shooting percentage last year.
Before transitioning to a power forward role in Minnesota with Rudy GobertTowns has been an adequate offensive rebounder as a center. But he is not at the level of a Mitchell Robinson Or Isaiah Hartenstein. New York’s perimeter shooting and floor spacing should be better after the addition of Towns, but the team’s ranking on the offensive glass will be a stat to watch all season.
On defense, Towns is no sieve, but he also doesn’t have the fearsome physical presence that Thibodeau-era Knicks teams have had on the roster, like Robinson, Hartenstein and Nerlens Christmas. Not having a traditional rim protector on the floor could force Thibodeau to get creative.
New York has used one of the most traditional defensive strategies in the NBA, but perhaps they emphasize defensive plays more. With bridges, OG Anunoby And Josh Hartthe Knicks have a deep collection of wings capable of guarding multiple positions.
Overall, the Knicks went almost all-in on this team. Remaining from the previous crop of assets is a heavily protected Washington Wizards first-round pick and several second-round picks. New York has also significantly increased its payroll. With a high-priced team, the expectations are even higher.
Thibodeau hasn’t faced that level of pressure with this club. His rotation decisions and in-game adjustments will be scrutinized. The conversations about him sending players to the ground will only intensify, especially if injuries arise.
Pressure can turn rocks into diamonds. For the Knicks, the hope is that they don’t succumb to the pressure and that those diamonds end up on a championship ring.
