2. KnicksFor the first time in the brief history of these rankings, the Boston Celtics do not occupy the No. 2 position. Making the leap are the defending NBA champion New York Knicks. The only thing keeping the Knicks out of the top three in prior rankings was the fear that they bet on the wrong stars. Spending five first-round picks on Mikal Bridges, on paper, was an overpay. Karl-Anthony Towns, at times, looked like a bloated contract that reportedly held minimal trade value. They went all-in. That meant that the team they built needed to be good enough. Obviously, it was.
Now, Leon Rose is responsible for one of the most incredible feats of team-building in NBA history. The Knicks just created an NBA champion without drafting a single starter. The only other champion to do so was the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers, who signed LeBron James in free agency, who, in turn, recruited Anthony Davis to force a trade to join him. The Knicks were built around a former second-round pick and his college friends. Jalen Brunson, at the very least, now stands as one of the five greatest free-agent signings in NBA history. Towns and OG Anunoby qualify as preposterous trade heists.
Even the Bridges trade stands out now as a sort of calculated irresponsibility. They didn't trade five first-round picks for a wing who's never made an All-Star Team. They traded five first-round picks for the specific player and contract they decided they needed to win a championship. Then they won that championship. It's simultaneously the sort of risk a lot of teams are going to be forced to take if they plan to catch up to the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, given the head starts those teams have, and one that almost none of them will ever be able to justify. It gets you the trophy or it gets you fired. Rose is fearless. He fired his head coach after reaching Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and it worked.
The big stuff gets the headlines, but the Knicks also thrive on the margins. Their contracts are a thing of beauty, and that extends far beyond Brunson's now-legendary discount. They have been pioneers in the recent proliferation of team options and descending-annual-value contracts. Virtually everyone on their bench makes below market value and has meaningful non-guarantees in their deals. They're always stuffed to the brim with second-round picks, which is how they so freely add players like Jose Alvarado at the deadline. They drafted Immanuel Quickley at No. 25 and Deuce McBride at No. 36.
You could find some minor quibbles. Owner James Dolan was reportedly heavily involved in the decision to fire Tom Thibodeau, and in general, he seems to participate more in basketball decisions than you'd like. Contrary to Dolan's beliefs, going into the second apron does not need to be "suicidal." There are moments when doing so makes sense, and if not doing so is a blanket policy long-term, it could create real issues for New York. There's also the sustainability question that comes with building a team around the relationships of a former agent. Eventually, Rose is going to run out of former clients to pursue. But the front office he has built has a virtually impeccable track record right now. The Knicks get basically everything right, and now they have a title to show for it.
in the HOF! Well done!