The word for much of the offseason was what the Philadelphia 76ers would do with their abundance of cap and roster space, and now that the dust has settled, the New York Knicks have clarity pertaining to what they’ll be up against in 2024-25.
The Sixers made a shrewd move by acquiring guard/forward Caleb Martin on July 6, and added to that by bringing back their hometown point guard Kyle Lowry on July 11. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news at the time of Lowry’s decision:
Knicks’ backup point guard target will be a defensive nuisance for New York next season
The former 2019 champion was an option that the Knicks were looking into for bench depth behind point guard Jalen Brunson, but instead of offering New York pesky defense and floor spacing next time out, he’ll be a thorn in their side for their Atlantic Division rivals.
The Lowry signing is especially pivotal in that the Sixers retain a ball-stopper who will try to make life hell for Brunson, especially in the half-court. The Knicks will field a much more talented offensive roster for next season, but that does not mean that Brunson won’t still have heavy lifting to do, nor will it diminish his offensive workload.
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Knicks will have to prepare for Lowry & the Sixers’ deep lineup in 2023-24
Brunson’s fellow Villanova product in Lowry likely won’t see the 28.4 minutes per game he logged in his 23 games played in Philadelphia in 2023-24, but even in shorter spurts, the six-time All-Star will need to be averted in his attempts to draw charges and get under the Knicks backcourt’s skin.
The 38-year-old joins a lineup that could also feature Martin, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid on the floor together at any time. The Sixers’ addition of Eric Gordon also gives them another veteran sniper with deep range from outside. At his advanced age, Lowry likely won’t tip the scales drastically, but measurably nonetheless on both ends. With only three games having separated the Knicks (50-32) from the 76ers (47-35) in the standings on the previous regular season campaign, every offseason move by both teams will be of paramount importance.
