The New York Knicks just keep on rolling.
They’ve swung and hit a proverbial home run this summer with impact moves in the open market and the 2024 NBA Draft. The Knicks’ transactions caught the eye of one NBA legend, who gave the franchise their just due for moving closer to championship contention.
According to USA Today’s Larry Berger, Hall-of-Famer Reggie Miller had this to say about where the Knicks currently stand:
“Reggie Miller told USA TODAY Sports that ‘the Knicks won and are winning the offseason,” Berger wrote.
The Knicks’ offseason moves have not been rivaled by many NBA teams
There have been a few teams that have made as many splashes as the Knicks in the offseason.
The Philadelphia 76ers began restructuring their roster by adding nine-time All-Star Paul George alongside sharpshooter Eric Gordon and rebounding great Andre Drummond. The Dallas Mavericks were able to lure four-time champion Klay Thompson away from the Golden State Warriors and brought in Quentin Grimes and Naji Marshall while the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder surrounded their young talent with Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes in the Spurs’ case and Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso in the case of the Thunder.
Knicks’ trades & major re-signings have outweighed key departures
Though Hartenstein’s departure to the Thunder was a crushing blow to New York’s frontcourt, the Knicks were able to trade a truckload of future draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets to acquire rising star Mikal Bridges, while also bringing OG Anunoby back on a lucrative five-year, $212.5 million deal.
Aside from the Bridges trade, the story of their offseason was the massive pay cut Jalen Brunson took to remain with the franchise. After finishing in the top-five in MVP voting last year, the 2024 All-Star rejoined the Knicks on a four-year, $156 million deal, paying him $39 million annually instead of what realistically could’ve been $50 million-plus per year.
New York also welcomed in Cam Payne to fill their void at backup point guard.
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The Knicks also came away with a steal or two in the 2024 NBA Draft
In the draft, the Knicks came away with French talent Pacome Dadiet at No. 25 overall and lucked up on arguably the steal of the draft in trading for Marquette’s Tyler Kolek, who has torn through the 2024 Summer League, capped off to date by his game-winning layup plus the harm against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. New York also stashed a sleeper pick in German-Togolese center Ariel Hukporti at No. 58 overall.
There may not be a team that has upgraded their roster and young talent pool without giving up their core cast more than the Knicks. Thanks to Knicks president Leon Rose, New York will enter the 2024-25 campaign with a roster that could realistically take home the Larry O’Brien trophy as presently constructed. Miller raving about the team is well-warranted.
