The New York Knicks were the most active team in the offseason, completing two major trades since early July to strengthen an already talented roster.
There's no question about that. The Knicks are putting all their metaphorical chips in the middle.
First, they unloaded a ton of draft capital on the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Mikal Bridges. He then parted ways with Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle and brought in Karl-Anthony Towns.
With expectations so high for the Knicks, let's take a look at their win total this season (53.5) and predict whether they'll beat or beat the third-highest projection in the NBA.
2024-25 NBA Eastern Conference total wins
| team | total | team | total | team | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| celtics | 58.5 | Pacers | 47.5 | raptors | 29.5 |
| knicks | 53.5 | magic | 47.5 | bull | 28.5 |
| bucks | 50.5 | heat | 44.5 | piston | 25.5 |
| 76ers | 50.5 | hawks | 36.5 | wizard | 20.5 |
| cavaliers | 48.5 | wasp | 30.5 | net | 18.5 |
2024-25 NBA total wins: Knicks prediction
The Knicks finally had the breakout season they had hoped for, winning 50 games and reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2023-24, but due to injuries, they succumbed to the rising Pacers.
It was the first season since the 2012-13 season to clear the 50-win mark. Can the revamped team win 54 games and clear this big win total?
The short answer is yes, you can.
The Knicks traded Julius Randle, a ball-dominant frontcourt player, and added Towns, a do-it-all big man who stretches the floor. Say goodbye to desert-like droughts.
The Knicks recognized some of their shortcomings last season and went into the offseason determined to fix them, even if it meant trading away good players and hurting some feelings. .
First, the Knicks realized they couldn't rely on Mitchell Robinson to stay healthy, leaving a big hole at the center position, especially after Isaiah Hartenstein left for Oklahoma City.
Second, they recognized that Jalen Brunson was the clear focus of the offense, making it difficult to utilize Randle's skill set effectively. Both sides needed to move forward.
And finally, to make their offense more efficient, they decided that a stretch five and a knockdown 3-and-D wing (a player with scoring ability) would be the two additions they needed to hit the shots. Agreed. To make the championship dream come true.
But they didn't just get a random 3-and-D wing. They traded Bridges to pair with OG Anunoby, two of the most versatile and switchable wings in the entire league.
The “Anunoby experiment” immediately paid off after acquiring him in December, with the Knicks winning 20 of 23 regular season games when he was in the lineup.
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Also, when he was available, his net rating was a ridiculous +13.2. For reference, the Celtics won 64 games and had a net rating of +11.7.
Even more impressive is the fact that Robinson and Randle were also absent for the majority of those games.
2024-25 NBA Wins Pick: Knicks
In sports, especially at the professional level, there are never any guarantees because the margin of error between the good and the bad is very narrow.
But this Knicks team is loaded with talent, and as long as they stay relatively healthy, they should have no problem winning more than 54 games, even in an improved Eastern Conference.
Best bet: Knicks at least 53.5 wins (-115, FanDuel)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Andrew Norton has handicapped the NBA, WNBA, NFL, College Basketball, Football, UFC, and Golf. During the 2022-23 NBA season, he delivered an outstanding ROI of 14.1%, cashed in 60% of his NBA spread picks, and led Tallysight in SportsIQ metrics.
