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NY Post
New York Post
27 Jul 2023


NextImg:How do the Knicks stack up in a deep Eastern Conference?

Roughly two months before training camp, there are still unresolved questions across the NBA.

Stars such as James Harden and Damian Lillard are in limbo.

It has created uncertainty within the Eastern Conference and about where the Knicks stand.

Harden wants out of Philadelphia. Lillard wants to play in Miami. Both still are likely to be moved, and the Knicks themselves could end up swinging a deal to improve their roster.

But as of now, they find themselves in a similar position: A projected playoff team, but not among the conference’s elite.

Let’s take a look at how the top 10 in the East break down at the present time:

1. Bucks

Even after Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Bucks suffered a stunning first-round playoff loss, their roster continuity makes them one of the favorites in the East again.
AP

Who knows what happens in the first round last season if Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t suffer a back injury in Game 1 against the Heat? Milwaukee was never the same afterward, and the Heat went on to the Finals for the second time in three years.

But let’s not overreact to that. The Bucks were the best team in the sport during the regular season, brought back key free agents Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton and remain the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

2. Celtics

Kristaps Porzingis is in. Marcus Smart and Grant Williams are out. In the long run, the Celtics may have more talent if Porzingis can stay healthy and build off his strong season with the Wizards, but they aren’t necessarily better.

They lost a lot of toughness with Smart and Williams, and Porzingis has yet to show he’s a winning player.

3. 76ers

The Sixers are in flux as they deal with the Harden situation and the potential fallout. They fired Doc Rivers, hired Nick Nurse and kept impressive young forward Paul Reed.

As long as Joel Embiid is here and Tyrese Maxey continues his ascension, this is a contender. At the age of 22, Maxey averaged 20.3 points, 3.5 assists and shot a lights-out 43.4 percent from 3-point range, indicating the former one-and-done Kentucky standout is ready for an even bigger role if Harden is moved.

4. Heat

Bam Adebayo #13 looks on with Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during Round 2 Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals 2023 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks on May 8, 2023 at Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Floridaa

Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler made it to the NBA Finals without Damian Lillard, but with him, they may have enough to win it.
NBAE via Getty Images

Obviously, Lillard would change a lot for the Heat, taking them from a contender to potentially a favorite. The seven-time All-Star is that good, and would create a Big 3 with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

As things stand now, though, the Heat have taken a step back, losing Max Strus to the Heat and Gabe Vincent to the Lakers. Still, this is a top-four team in the conference even without Lillard, and you have to believe Erik Spoelstra will unearth a new hidden gem like he did with Strus and Vincent. It has become the Heat’s way.

5. Cavaliers

Yes, the Knicks manhandled the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs, eliminating Donovan Mitchell and Co. in five games. But the Cavaliers were four games better than the Knicks across the 82-game regular season, and they did make a few nice additions, adding shooters in Strus and Georges Niang.

Most important, though, the young core of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen is only going to get better.

6. Knicks

So much went right for the Knicks last season, from teams that were better than them on paper taking steps backward to the progress of several young players, most notably Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley. There is a better case to be made for regression than improvement.

New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the second half at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Immanuel Quickley’s emergence as one of the NBA’s best sixth men fueled one of the best bench units in the league.
Noah K. Murray for the NY Post

There is a glut of guards/small wings on the roster that is screaming out for a trade. Remember, the Knicks really struggled defending big wings last year, and that is likely to remain a problem.

The signing of Donte DiVincenzo helps them, particularly from a shooting standpoint. The Knicks were the worst 3-point-shooting team in the postseason.

The Obi Toppin trade with the Pacers — netting a return of only two second-round picks — created a void up front on the formidable second unit. There will be games the Knicks miss his energy and athleticism.

7. Hawks

It feels as if the Hawks should be better. They have a dynamic backcourt in Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, strong complementary pieces around them and a quality coach in Quin Snyder. Yet, they went 41-41 and didn’t exactly turn it around after Snyder replaced Nate McMillan, going 10-11.

The Hawks didn’t defend nearly well enough last season — they were ranked 22nd in defensive rating — and were a subpar rebounding team. Maybe Young and Murray’s second year together will produce better results or the long-anticipated trade of frustrating forward John Collins will lead to a breakout season for a young player such as A.J. Griffin or Jalen Johnson.

8. Bulls

DeMar DeRozan #11 and Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls celebrate after a second half score against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 8, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine combined to average more than 49 points per game last season, yet the Bulls still finished two games under .500.
Getty Images

The Bulls appear intent on running it back, believing their disappointing play-in-and-out season won’t repeat itself. They brought back veteran center Nikola Vucevic on a three-year, $60 million contract, and also re-signed guards Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White.

But they haven’t fixed their glaring hole at point guard — Lonzo Ball’s problematic left knee is expected to cost him next season — and the wing duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan hasn’t shown the ability to do more than put up hollow numbers together. Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig were nice depth signings.

9. Raptors

Losing Fred VanVleet to the Rockets was a major blow to one of the league’s most disappointing teams.

Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are entering the final year of their contracts, but so far the Raptors have been unwilling to move either player. Starting over would make sense, but Toronto doesn’t seem willing to take that leap.

10. Magic

Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 31, 2023 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

Paolo Banchero’s ability to score from a variety of spots and to run the offense makes the Magic one of the most upwardly mobile teams in the East.
NBAE via Getty Images

The Magic are a team on the move, led by Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero and talented two-way wing Franz Wagner. The Magic started 5-20, but went 29-28 after that.

Joe Ingles was a nice veteran addition for this young roster; he’s a skilled wing who has been productive throughout his nine NBA seasons when healthy.

Unless the Knicks have a move in them over the next two months, they will enter training camp without a backup power forward.

It may seem like a major hole on the roster, and there is obviously risk involved if Julius Randle gets hurt.

But, considering how much coach Tom Thibodeau plays Randle and the need to spread out the backcourt minutes after the addition of DiVincenzo, there aren’t many minutes needed to make up for the loss of Toppin.

Randle has averaged at least 35.3 minutes each of the past three seasons. That leaves less than 13 minutes the Knicks need to account for.

Julius Randle

Julius Randle’s heavy workload doesn’t require the Knicks to find a lot of time behind him, but the Obi Toppin trade may force Tom Thibodeau to get creative to fill those minutes.
Getty Images

The expectation as of now is that Josh Hart and RJ Barrett will assume most of that time in a small-ball lineup.

Toppin was on the floor for only 15.7 minutes per game last year. It could mean Hart and Barrett splitting those power forward minutes in each half.

Again, the Knicks may end up making a move. But they don’t have to.