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The Knicks fall in the Eastern Conference Finals after a tough series but a pretty special run through the playoffs beating Boston and Detroit. They are the penultimate and 28th team eliminated.

Previous Threads:
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Time of death: May 31, 2025
Record at elimination: 51-31 (10-8 in playoffs)
Head coach: Tom Thibodeau



https://www.spotrac.com/nba/new-york-knicks/yearly
Contract summary:

KAT – 3yr/180M remain, final year 61M PO
OG Anuoby – 4yr/170M remain, final year 48M PO
Brunson – 4yr/155M remain, final year 43M PO
Bridges – 1yr/25M (I think he can be extended?)
Hart – 3yr/60M remain, final year 22M TO
Mitchell Robinson – extension eligible, or 12M expiring
Precious Achiuwa – UFA
Miles McBride – extension eligible, or 2yr/8M remain
Cam Payne – UFA
Delon Wright – UFA
Landry Shamet – UFA
PJ Tucker - UFA

Rookie Scale/minimums (varies on 2-4 years remaining):
Tyler Kolek – 3yrs remain
Pacome Dadiet – 3yr remain
Ariel Hukporti – 2M TO

TW
MarJon Beauchamp
Kevin McCullar
Anton Watson

Dead-cap – 800K off the books this season, NONE retained next.
Capspace – 1st apron, hardcapped. Few UFAs off the books, but still limited maneuverability to reach roster floor

PICKS for 2025 draft:
MEM 2nd

A SMALL SEASON REVIEW:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/ny/seasontype/2

New York was a surprise team for me, and much improved from last season's playoff exit. There were makings of a squad that could compete each night, but adding Mikal Bridges in the offseason for a major haul of picks was critical to bringing NYK back to the EC Finals. I do think the cost to get there was significant, it helps that Brunson played a stellar season. For me, his clutch performances - and this team's ability to fight to the end no matter what - bought extra wins during the year. Surely in the playoffs.

For that matter, the Knicks faced upstarts Detroit in R1 and were treated to a very intense first round series seeing multiple games lost at home for each squad. It was thrilling as a neutral (and I'm happy to see DET back in the mix) but NYK was the superior team, prevailing 4-2.

In Round 2, the Knicks drew No. 2 seed Boston. A tough series vs the defending champs. Things did not go the Celts' way, however, losing both games 1 and 2. Knicks forced comebacks and won in dramatic fashion to take a commanding lead. Though they did drop G3, the NY squad prevailed in a tense Game 4. Also, Tatum was injured in that game - giving the Knicks even more landing room to power into the ECF. They did just that, meeting the Indiana Pacers in a rivalry renewed from the late-90's and early 2000's. Though it was unexpected for both teams to reach that level, one had to prevail, and the Pacers pushed past NY in 6 games.

A valiant playoff run, and a pretty nice season all things considered. KAT / OG / Bridges / Brunson / Hart was the big time lineup for this team, and they play well together. There are some cracks though as the deep rotation was seldom utilised, and it showed in the playoffs. Players were gassed as the team used a short rotation. Thibs, well known for this strategy, I do believe helped this team achieve more. At the time of writing this recap (A few days after NYK was eliminated) the Knicks released Thibs of his service. So, yeah, they are in the market now for a new coach to try to get the team back to the Finals.

It's brought more questions up to the front during the first weeks of the offseason after I was pretty convinced they would run it back (with an EC that could be wide-open). There's some limited maneuverability to be had in the offseason, but this core is set, and the fringes are where they will improve.

It was a great season, and this team is just there, very close to the championship. Just make the necessary adjustments this off-season and run it back with a new head coach. Future is bright Knicks fans!

That Bridges trade is looking worse and worse. 5 1st round picks for what is essentially an undersized SF with mediocre defense and no guard skills. They badly need some additional perimeter talent to help Brunson and they already emptied the clip for Bridges

I was so close with my predictions of Knicks being in the finals

Well done to the Pacers

Even though Kat played well, might be time for Giannis/Kat swap?

I voted:
Keep Front Office
Change Coach
Performed better than Expected/Improving Team

I'll explain my vote later. But for now thank you 2025 Knicks for a Great Season.

The Knicks probably need a new coach. The team is way too talented to be less than the sum of their parts.

Brunson is undersized and can’t play defense. OG/Hart/Bridges are inconsistent shooters, and they lack a natural two guard.

It probably makes sense to trade KAT and try and get 2-3 players in return, but I would look to trade Hart/Robinson and see if you can get a two guard.

thibs gone ?

Nice Playoff run by the Knicks, but this team is maxed out imo. They've gotten as much out of this roster as they're going to. They're simply not good enough to win a Championship with this group. They'll likely run it back and suffer the same result next year.

Teams whose best players are 6'1 SG's don't win Championships, period.

Marvin Martian wrote:That Bridges trade is looking worse and worse. 5 1st round picks for what is essentially an undersized SF with mediocre defense and no guard skills. They badly need some additional perimeter talent to help Brunson and they already emptied the clip for Bridges

i think he is extension eligible this summer.

Great season. Knicks keep getting closer and closer. Brunson still needs to learn to be more of a facilitator. He can be the go-to guy late, but he would have more juice if more guys are cooking during the playoffs.

Tweak the team but mostly run it back. They beat Boston and a couple bounces here and there could have them in the finals. If you finish in the top 4, I think 90% of the time you just tweak the roster and run it back. The urge to overreact can be dangerous.

I feel they need a bigger, play making guard starting alongside Brunson to take the pressure off of him bringing the ball up the court.

I would like to see that player play an Eric Snow role while Brunson plays the Iverson role.

Also, if the knicks played their bench more often, then their players wouldn’t be as fatigued down the stretch of the season/playoffs.

Lastly, they definitely need a third centre/depth piece that can offset Town’s defensive weaknesses while being able to hit free throws at a consistent rate (65% or so).

miamiheat319 wrote:thibs gone ?

They just made the ECF with the history of like a small market team since their last ECF appearance. He’s not going anywhere.

Their expectations aren’t of a championship storied franchise where they’ve had a bunch of runs and need to scapegoat the coach. They made it decently far and thibs was a big reason why.

Keep, keep, better, improving.

Blow it up and build around Shamet.

james vincent wrote:I feel they need a bigger, play making guard starting alongside Brunson to take the pressure off of him bringing the ball up the court.

I would like to see that player play an Eric Snow role while Brunson plays the Iverson role.

Also, if the knicks played their bench more often, then their players wouldn’t be as fatigued down the stretch of the season/playoffs.

Lastly, they definitely need a third centre/depth piece that can offset Town’s defensive weaknesses while being able to hit free throws at a consistent rate (65% or so).

Eric Snow is exactly correct. Mikal is a little redundant. We may need to cut our losses on him or move Hart for that piece and move Mikal to SF. That's gonna ruffle some feathers but we're not playing for peanuts anymore.

Who is that player now? Like, is Boston moving White?

Bridges up for an extension, 4 years 157 mil.
Mitchell 4 years 81 mil.
That pretty much much will make them second apron in 2026-2027.
They would have to fill 6 spots with 8 mil$
I don’t know if this is the team you want to be in second apron with but they don’t have a choice. East is weak and next year they could be in the finals

I would just run it back. Celtics are a non factor next year. East is going to be open again. I don’t trust Cleveland.

Trade KAT for KD. Knock Brunson down to 2nd option where he belongs. Replace Thibs with Jenkins.