Breaking News: Two significant issues that the Knicks might have in 2024–2025
These are two challenges that the New York Knicks may face in this upcoming season. The team is not perfect, and they will have to work through problems throughout the season to finally end the championship drought that has lasted for over 50 years. Nevertheless, they appear to be one of the best teams in the NBA this upcoming season, which is understandable given that they added Mikal Bridges to a roster that was already deep and full of high-level talent.
1. Center depth is lacking for the Knicks
The Knicks’ center room has a serious depth problem, as has been discussed all summer long. Mitchell Robinson, who underwent two ankle surgeries last season, is the lone seven-footer in the rotation right now. At 6’8′′, Precious Achiuwa is now projected to be the team’s backup big man in the second unit.
The Knicks would likely prefer a taller player to fill that job off the bench, but there aren’t many that they can reasonably pursue. Achiuwa has demonstrated that he can limit taller matchups. To add to their depth, they allegedly attempted to sign free agent big man Omer Yurtseven, but no agreement was reached.
Robinson must therefore maintain his health for the duration of the season and perform at his highest level when he is on the court for them. The Knicks wouldn’t have insurance to replace his size and rim protection if he were to suffer a major injury once more, which would be extremely detrimental to them when playing teams with stronger rosters. The team’s center depth is entirely dependent on Robinson’s health for the forthcoming campaign. It is unclear if New York is still looking for a center on the market or if they will just settle with their internal possibilities.
2. This season, key rotation players from last year will have to give up part of their burden.
Guys like Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, who were predicted to be role players off the bench, made significant contributions for the Knicks last season. Due to the team’s mounting injury list, both players started the majority of the second half of the season, and they had a significant role in their team’s run to the second round of the playoffs the previous year.
But with Bridges back in the mix and OG Anunoby and Julius Randle both recovering from their ailments, those two players will once again have to settle for bench roles, which will cut down on the amount of shots they can take. Although their workload for the upcoming season is unknown, head coach Tom Thibodeau will have the option of using Hart and DiVincenzo in a variety of lines because of their versatility.
DiVincenzo in particular has a remote possibility of contending for the Sixth Man of the Year title in the league. He scored 15 points per game in 81 games the previous season and, with 283, made the third-most threes in the NBA, behind only Stephen Curry and Luka Donic. The Knicks will only get deeper with one of the top perimeter shooters in the league available off the bench.
The Knicks will have one of the deepest and most well-rounded offensive lineups in the league as long as Jalen Brunson, who has stated previously that he doesn’t think the team will have a problem giving up shot opportunities for the better good of the team, continues to believe that way.
Guys may occasionally desire to spend more time on the court, but that will require everyone to support the plan they wish to follow going forward. It remains to be seen how Thibodeau involves everyone deeply in the game plan, but he has plenty of latitude to switch up his rotations, which should result in plenty of success.