The Knicks have been a force this offseason, there’s no debate about that.
They added elite 3-and-D wing Mikal Bridges and kept another outstanding wing, OG Anunoby, to pair with star guard Jalen Brunson.
The issue has nothing to do with the projected roster, but the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder, leaving fewer options on the free-agent market, has opened up a hole behind center Mitchell Robinson.
The question is the rest of the Eastern Conference, the teams at the top are getting better.
The 76ers added nine-time All-Star Paul George and created a big three in George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, which may be the best trio in the entire NBA.
They also signed veterans Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon and brought back defensive-minded wing Kelly Oubre Jr. The three moves should add to the team’s depth.
The champion Celtics return the entire core of the team that went 80-21, including a dominant playoff run, while the thriving Magic add former Nets 3-point and defensive wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and retain role-playing guards Gary Harris, Goga Bitadze and Mo Wagner.
The Bucks still have superstars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, and won 49 games last year despite what most experts would call a disappointing year. The Pacers are young, bring back star forward Pascal Siakam and backup Obi Toppin, and are getting better after beating the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, even though Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s squad was seriously short-staffed at the time.
We haven’t even mentioned the Heat or Cavaliers yet. Those playoff teams haven’t lost any key players and feature two of the best guards in the league in Jimmy Butler and Donovan Mitchell, respectively.
Led by a young trio of Scottie Barnes, former Knicks player RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors feel like a team capable of making a leap after a dismal 25-win season.
It’s worth noting that the Knicks won 50 games last year despite being plagued by injuries and Julius Randle only playing in 46 regular season games.
Despite Robinson missing even more games than that, and Anunoby missing 27 games since being traded to the Raptors on Dec. 30, they still were fifth in NET rating of plus-4.9 (meaning they outscored opponents by 4.9 points per 100 possessions), seventh in offensive rating (117.3) and ninth in defensive rating (112.4).
They were one of just three teams to finish in the top 10 in the latter two categories and now have Bridges, a difference-maker who can defend and score at a high level.
Knicks fans are understandably optimistic, but many other fan bases are likely feeling the same way.
Of course, a lot can change between now and the start of the regular season, with more moves and potentially impactful trades being made.
But right now, the top half of the Eastern Conference looks weak.
The team includes the overwhelmingly powerful and defending champion Celtics, arguably the most talented Big Three in the 76ers, promising young teams in the Magic, Cavaliers and Pacers, and the superstar-studded Bucks.
The Knicks have gotten better, but their rivals haven’t gotten worse. In fact, the teams they’re competing against have gotten better.
