Does Karl-Anthony Cities commerce make Knicks a championship contender?

The Knicks are absolutely dedicated. After touchdown Karl-Anthony Cities in a shock blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York is all in on competing for a championship.

After buying Cities and Mikal Bridges this offseason, New York’s cabinet is almost naked. The core is about. Jalen Brunson is the staff’s star with Cities as a complementary star. Bridges and OG Anunoby are complementary two-way wings. On the periphery are Josh Hart, Miles McBride and oft-injured middle Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks gave up a very good quantity to get Cities. Julius Randle was a three-time All-Star. Donte DiVincenzo broke the membership’s franchise document for three-pointers made in a season. The primary-round decide that New York despatched to Minnesota by way of Detroit may have some worth if the Pistons turn out to be a playoff staff within the subsequent couple of years.

The commerce for Cities is basically about Brunson. The Brunson-Randle partnership by no means felt symbiotic regardless of each gamers discovering a very good steadiness simply earlier than Randle’s season-ending shoulder harm in January.

They’d a “your flip, my flip” model of play when on the ground collectively. Randle hardly ever screened for Brunson, partially as a result of the Knicks at all times had a middle clogging up the paint.

However Brunson and Cities collectively needs to be what the Knicks offense is constructed round. Cities’ three-point taking pictures is harmful and will liberate alternatives for Brunson to assault in area.

The seven-footer is only a shade beneath 40 % from three throughout his profession and knocked down 41.6 % from three on 327 makes an attempt final season. If groups change a decide and roll, Cities can mash smaller defenders within the submit, face up and assault line drives as properly.

Cities’ presence ought to open up alternatives for New York’s different gamers too. Anunoby and Bridges are two of one of the best nook three-point shooters within the NBA and above common as off-the-ball cutters. The gravity that Brunson and Cities have ought to create seems for them.

Flaws and all

Cities does have his flaws. Although he did return late within the common season, he’s coming off a meniscus surgical procedure on his left knee. Over the past 5 years, he’s missed 20 or extra video games in 4 seasons.

Cities’ protection has additionally at all times been a query. Although Cities has made some enhancements as a defender, most of that development occurred with nice defenders like Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels overlaying up his weaknesses.

The Knicks do have Bridges, Anunoby, Hart and McBride as high quality perimeter defenders, which ought to put much less stress on Cities to must cowl up the whole lot within the paint.

In going from Randle to Cities, the Knicks have downgraded in a single space, playmaking. For all of Randle’s warts, he averaged 5 assists an evening final season and has averaged at the very least 4 dimes the final 4 seasons. Cities has improved as a passer, however he nonetheless has a penchant for foolish choices and wild offensive fouls.

Additionally, together with DiVincenzo within the deal weakens New York’s depth. His three-point taking pictures turned an actual weapon and he’s a flexible two-guard that excels in lots of aspects of the sport.

Anticipate Josh Hart to start out, although the Knicks may finally play Cities and Robinson collectively in a two-center lineup when Robinson returns. New York’s bench is thinner and one or a number of accidents are so much more durable for the membership to abdomen.

However this commerce is definitely worth the threat. New York’s components for successful the previous few years beneath Tom Thibodeau has been offensive rebounding. Creating additional possessions has helped the Knicks construct a top-ten offense regardless of being twentieth in true taking pictures proportion final season. Offensive rebounding was the x-factor in each of New York’s first-round sequence wins in 2024 and 2023.

Including Cities modifications that equation. Along with his potential to unfold the ground, Cities received’t be hovering across the offensive glass in the best way facilities like Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein and Nerlens Noel have executed previously. However to construct a real title contender, New York wanted to assemble a half-court offense with higher spacing and shotmaking.

To do this, the Knicks have sacrificed so much. In making this commerce, New York’s flooring is so much worse. Accidents and potential defensive points may short-circuit a season. However after the commerce, the staff’s ceiling is increased. And because the franchise seems to compete for a championship, the addition of Cities provides them a practical path to rivalry.