Knicks · Knicks 2025-26 season about to start: signings, traning camp, and preseason (page 2)

martin @ 9/18/2025 9:54 PM
Knixkik wrote:This team is so loaded top to bottom. I do wonder if the Knicks will eventually move McBride due to the impending contract concern. But I hope they don’t. He’s so valuable to what we do, even if his role is a bit capped.

If Knicks get to finals, and Mitch and Deuce were doing their part and all things being equal, I don’t see how you break it up?

Panos @ 9/19/2025 12:10 AM
martin wrote:.

You know what's wrong with this picture? OG making $40m

KEEPCAMBYNY @ 9/19/2025 7:32 AM
This is an old tweet I came across so its not 3 months away, but less than 2 weeks away.

KEEPCAMBYNY @ 9/21/2025 12:56 AM
Now this is a 25-26 Knicks anthem that I can get behind. They need to drop an official Knicks video for this.
martin @ 9/21/2025 9:54 PM
Good stuff

martin @ 9/22/2025 10:13 AM
martin @ 9/22/2025 10:58 AM
martin @ 9/22/2025 11:00 AM
martin @ 9/22/2025 7:59 PM
martin @ 9/23/2025 10:57 PM
I’m pumped for this season

newyorknewyork @ 9/24/2025 8:34 AM
We could really use one more proven PF/C.

With FVV tearing his ACL.

Knicks trade Deuce, Dadiet & Kolek to Houston for Jabari Smith Jr.
This worked under trade checker.

Rockets have depth in the frontcourt, but lack depth at G especially with FVV getting injured. Deuce is a quality off ball paring with Amen Thompson who does a lot of the ball handling but isn't a shooter.
Defensively they would be strong as well.
Knicks have depth in the backcourt, but could use another quality PF/C. Jabari Smith Jr imo is a perfect match with any frontcourt pairing from Towns, Mitch, Yabu.
Rockets also would save a ton of money as Jabri is due for a raise. $12.3mil to $23.6mil
Knicks will need to figure things out financially after the season as Jabari's raise will push them up the aprons.
Though Jabri will cover for potentially losing Mitch as a FA.

martin @ 9/24/2025 8:51 AM
newyorknewyork wrote:We could really use one more proven PF/C.

With FVV tearing his ACL.

Knicks trade Deuce, Dadiet & Kolek to Houston for Jabari Smith Jr.
This worked under trade checker.

Rockets have depth in the frontcourt, but lack depth at G especially with FVV getting injured. Deuce is a quality off ball paring with Amen Thompson who does a lot of the ball handling but isn't a shooter.
Defensively they would be strong as well.
Knicks have depth in the backcourt, but could use another quality PF/C. Jabari Smith Jr imo is a perfect match with any frontcourt pairing from Towns, Mitch, Yabu.
Rockets also would save a ton of money as Jabri is due for a raise. $12.3mil to $23.6mil
Knicks will need to figure things out financially after the season as Jabari's raise will push them up the aprons.
Though Jabri will cover for potentially losing Mitch as a FA.

Deuce + Kolek for Tari Eason also works under the cap.

Nalod @ 9/24/2025 8:53 AM
martin wrote:

Naturally chemistry matters and lets be honest, we saw it with Cleveland most of last season. Garland got hurt and credit to Indy as well. Thus even an NBA exec votes what they see, adn picking by far Thunder to win it all does not take much imagination. I suspect before last season Boston was the favorite to repeat in last year poll?
Champs with returning rosters earn that cred.

Clev will have another year with coach Kenny to refine its process. Knicks last year despite its obvious talent never had Cav's depth and while they did really well we all know Thibs never had them finely tuned.
That itself is why many voted to give the east to the Cav's and its not undreasonable. Mike Brown has yet to coach a game with this group, thus uncertainty. Im ok with that. Its not "hate" as its for Knicks to sort that out on the court. Would not suprise me if they start the season eitehr struggling or ablaze and rack up wins. In a league with greater parity its not easy to make predictions. Injuries play a huge role as we all know.

West: OKC, Den, Minny and Rockets are all viable.
East: Knicks and Cav's stand out. There seemingly a suprise "it" team that emerges". No suprise if Orlando/Detroit joins the fray but ATL might be a suprise for some. I think Charlotte is about due to make a play in? Im rooting for Wiz as we own that pick if its not lottery.

Its the last 25 games in a seaosn that really show a teams meddle. Teams can come out red hot but league can adjust or injuries matter. Orlando and Indy flipped the scripts last year as one got healthy while another suffered.

martin @ 9/24/2025 8:54 AM
VDesai @ 9/24/2025 9:30 AM
No one talking about Josh Hart's gnarly finger? Apparently surgery went wrong. Will have to play the whole year in a splint. On his shooting hand. Not loving this development...
martin @ 9/24/2025 10:06 AM
Is there a corollary to the Once a Knicks, always a Knicks... Like, except when you go to Miami?

newyorknewyork @ 9/24/2025 10:26 AM
martin wrote:
newyorknewyork wrote:We could really use one more proven PF/C.

With FVV tearing his ACL.

Knicks trade Deuce, Dadiet & Kolek to Houston for Jabari Smith Jr.
This worked under trade checker.

Rockets have depth in the frontcourt, but lack depth at G especially with FVV getting injured. Deuce is a quality off ball paring with Amen Thompson who does a lot of the ball handling but isn't a shooter.
Defensively they would be strong as well.
Knicks have depth in the backcourt, but could use another quality PF/C. Jabari Smith Jr imo is a perfect match with any frontcourt pairing from Towns, Mitch, Yabu.
Rockets also would save a ton of money as Jabri is due for a raise. $12.3mil to $23.6mil
Knicks will need to figure things out financially after the season as Jabari's raise will push them up the aprons.
Though Jabri will cover for potentially losing Mitch as a FA.

Deuce + Kolek for Tari Eason also works under the cap.

Fan of Eason as a player, he is more of a forward though. But would accomplish the goal of keeping OG more at SF than PF.

ToddTT @ 9/24/2025 4:53 PM
martin wrote:Is there a corollary to the Once a Knicks, always a Knicks... Like, except when you go to Miami?

Good for him. I expect he’ll have a better year with more playing time.

Him and iHart were fun to watch.

BigDaddyG @ 9/24/2025 6:41 PM
ToddTT wrote:
martin wrote:Is there a corollary to the Once a Knicks, always a Knicks... Like, except when you go to Miami?

Good for him. I expect he’ll have a better year with more playing time.

Him and iHart were fun to watch.

I'll always root for that man. Yes, his basketball IQ is trash, if existent at all. And,yes, he should be much better than he is, based on his god given talent. But his effort is infectious and he was responsible for some of the team's most memorable highlights of the year. And his clutch was is underrated. I hope Spo whips him into shape.

martin @ 9/24/2025 9:39 PM
It’s n article, but in a tweet.


Offseason Overview, Season Outlook, Record Prediction

Notable Additions: Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele

Notable Subtractions: Delon Wright, Cam Payne, Precious Achiuwa

Depth Chart:
PG: Jalen Brunson / Miles McBride / Malcolm Brogdon / Tyler Kolek
SG: Mikal Bridges / Jordan Clarkson / Landry Shamet / Tosan Evbuomwan
SF: OG Anunoby / Josh Hart / Pacôme Dadiet / Kevin Mccullar
PF: Karl-Anthony Towns / Guerschon Yabusele
C: Mitchell Robinson / Ariel Hukporti / Trey Jemison

Roster Hierarchy:
Franchise: Jalen Brunson
Core: Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby
Key Rotation: Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele, Miles McBride
Rotation: Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, Ariel Hukporti, Tyler Kolek
Development: Tosan Evbuomwan, Pacôme Dadiet, Trey Jemison, Kevin Mccullar

Offseason Overview:

Basketball is better when the Knicks are good. Madison Square Garden is the coliseum where the greats rise to the occasion, and all those unworthy crumble under the crushing pressure of international attention. Tom Thibodeau responded to the most pressure in his career in the only way he knows how…by completely ignoring it.

His stubbornness to make the requisite changes to craft the ideal offensive lineups and install more inventive offensive sets doomed the Knicks yet again, forcing the front office to bring in a new head coach, Mike Brown.

New York’s most consequential move being a head coaching replacement is an indicator that they believe this group has what it takes to reach the Finals, that Brown can more effectively manage this roster and restore glory to the Mecca.

Pre-Draft Needs:

🥇 Bench Reinforcement: 12.7 MPG for NY’s Bench, the lowest since the 2010 Grizzlies. +1.7 Bench Net Rating (9th)

🥈 Offensive Versatility :Jalen Brunson 48.7 On-Ball%, KAT + Hart + Bridges + OG = 49.8 On-Ball%, 25th in PNR Frequency, 23rd in Transition Frequency

🥉 3P Generation: 38.4% 3PAr (27th), 26.1 Clutch 3P% (28th)

The Knicks added 2 proven contributors to their bench, including a top 10 transition player in basketball last season, Guerschon Yabusele. They are poised to be more resilient offensively, providing Mike Brown can deploy their pieces more effectively.

Season Outlook:

1. What will be the Knicks optimal offensive alignment, 4-out 1-in or 5-out?

5-Out is an offensive philosophy that places all 5 players beyond the arc, utilizing the fundamental motion offense principles of driving, cutting and replacing to generate high-quality shots. This alignment is often thought of as the best way to create space for driving lanes, but as Rick Carlisle discussed on @C2_Cooper’s podcast this summer, 4-out 1-in can be even more effective at creating driving windows when paired with well-timed relocations around the basket from the “1-in” player. With these concepts in mind, what makes the most sense for New York’s base alignment?

The best 5-out lineups employ players who are just as dangerous shooting the ball as they are driving and kicking in space. Boston combined those advantages to craft the greatest offense of all time in their title-winning season, and this Knicks team has lineups that can play to those same strengths. A 5-man lineup of Jalen/Deuce/Mikal/OG/KAT meets these requirements, but most importantly, prevents teams from placing their 5 on a non-shooter and guarding KAT with a wing. The biggest advantage NY has offensively is KAT’s unicorn-esque combo of shooting gravity and driving ability as a 5, an advantage that is neutered when he isn’t attacking a big.

That doesn’t mean they won’t find any success with Hart and Robinson as the “1-in” players, as Hart’s passing and strength advantage over guards and Mitch’s offensive rebounding and vertical spacing brings value but these players deficiencies latently minimize NY’s greatest offensive weapon. With KAT on the floor, NY should aim to be in 5-out alignments 80+% of the time.

2. How can Mike Brown maximize Karl-Anthony Towns?

Through January 1st, 2025, the Knicks had the 2nd best offense in the NBA, a full +9 rORTG BETTER than league average. In the 49 games after Jan 1st, NY fell all the way to 14th, just +1.8 points better than league average. A drop this massive is usually explained by a devastating injury, but this was caused by a simple change in how opponents guarded the Knicks, checking KAT with a wing and having their center roam off of Josh Hart. Thibs responded by completely going away from JB/KAT PNR, the best 2-man action in the league, because he refused to take Hart out of the starting lineup.

Playing more 5-out will work wonders for the Knicks offense, mainly because they’ve got to get KAT back to firing 3s. Despite shooting a career-high 42% from 3, he took his lowest 3P/100 (6.6, 79th%) since 2018, thanks to teams switching JB/KAT PNRs which killed his pick and pop game. The cramped spacing and getting guarded by wings also led to Towns turning the ball over on 7.5% of his drives (61st out of 75 qualified drivers).

If Mike Brown is able to overhaul the offense and install the requisite motion principles, we should see KAT be even better at punishing mismatches in the post, destroying opposing bigs in space and get back to firing 3s at a high clip.

3. Can Bridges/OG/Hart/Deuce apply the requisite perimeter pressure to play offensively-titled lineups?

Once the Knicks traded for KAT, the entire organization should’ve been aware that they were now an offensive-first team. That concept never seemed to dawn upon Thibs, who continued to actively sabotage this team’s offensive ceiling with a variety of decisions that ultimately led to a 2nd-consecutive playoff exit at the hands of the Pacers.

Mike Brown needs to explore the limits of this teams’ defensive integrity, leaning on his switchable Mikal/OG duo, Deuce’s POA suppression and Hart’s havoc creation to try and staunch the bleeding. Mitch Rob will play a huge part as well of course, but this defense’s viability starts on the perimeter, since they’ll be playing a large portion of minutes with a weak rim protector.

4. Will Mike Brown’s refusal to play Keon Ellis big minutes carry over to Deuce Mcbride?

Kings fans spent the entirety of last season begging Mike Brown to up Keon Ellis’ minutes, as he was clearly their most conducive fit next to the rest of the starters. In the games he started, he helped drive an awful defensive Kings team to a DRTG equivalent to the 8th best in the league (via @JackDannKF), yet he continued to be pigeonholed as a spot-starter.

Deuce is cut from the same cloth, a clear complement to the Knicks core and maybe even their best choice to be the 5th starter. McBride replicated his regular season impact (+4.6 On/Off, 2nd on NY) despite shooting incredibly poorly in the playoffs. The Knicks were +5.4 PTS per 100 better with him on the floor versus off, posting the 2nd-best on-court net rating on the team. Mike Brown surely won’t continue to ignore all of the signals pointing out an incredibly impactful combo guard…right?

5. New York intends to roster both Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet - they MUST make a trade to keep both. Who’s the likeliest to be traded?

The Knicks have apparently committed to signing both Brogdon and Shamet to their 15-man roster. While I view both of these guys as deeper rotation guys, NY is likely attempting to decrease Brunson’s creation load in the regular season and introduce some movement shooting ability in Shamet that will help a motion offense run smoothly. I have to agree with the reporting that Pacome Dadiet, their first-round pick form last year, is the easiest way to create a roster spot, though I don’t agree with the decision. I don’t see a scenario where Brogdon + Shamet are worth punting on their 1 young asset considering their 9-man rotation.

Record Prediction

Total Wins Over/Under: 53.5 via BetMGM

Floor: 46–36 (-5 wins)
It seems impossible for the Knicks to win LESS games with Thibs out of the picture, with everything I just said about how little he maximized this roster. For all his faults though, Thibs is wired to squeeze out every win possible in the regular season with his pedal to the medal approach to his starters’ minutes. Will Brown have that same emphasis? Would it even benefit the Knicks to push for a materially better record as long as they secure home-court in the 1st round?

Ceiling: 59–23 (+4 wins)
From my viewpoint, this team has everything they need to be an absolutely devastating offense. Mike Brown’s evolution as a defensive-first head coach in his earlier years to the leader of the league’s best offense in Sacramento makes me feel a bit more comfortable in his ability to install the optimal principles for this team. It will take time for the Knicks to wipe the #ThibsBall from their mainframe, but even a little bit of motion will go a long way.

ToddTT @ 9/24/2025 9:41 PM
Too many words.
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