The Knicks got better this offseason. But so did the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Dejounte Murray joined the Hawks. The Cavaliers landed longtime Knicks target Donovan Mitchell. The Nets kept their stars. The Bucks figure to be much healthier this season. The Celtics improved with incremental moves.
So, yes, the Knicks are improved, but that doesn’t mean a direct return to the playoffs — with a top-six finish in the conference — is a lock. A spot in the play-in tournament — which includes the Nos. 7-10 teams — feels much more likely.
After going 37-45 last season, a return to finishing above .500 feels realistic. Having a reliable point guard such as Jalen Brunson should elevate others around him, and less pressure on Julius Randle to be a scorer and playmaker could lead to a more efficient season from the southpaw.
Here, we take a look at the top 10 teams in the Eastern Conference — and where the Knicks fit in.
The favorites
1. Celtics
The Celtics were smart to pass on Kevin Durant if it was going to cost All-Star wing Jaylen Brown. The defensive-minded Brown fits co-star Jayson Tatum better than Durant would have, and the Celtics are coming off a berth in the finals. Major moves weren’t needed. The Celtics instead tinkered with the roster, landing point guard Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with the Pacers. It is the kind of deal that could really pay off come playoff time. Brogdon, as long as he can stay healthy, is a significant two-way piece capable of scoring, orchestrating and defending. The Celtics also signed wing Danilo Gallinari, but Gallinari recently suffered a torn ACL while playing internationally for Italy, which hurts the Celtics’ scoring depth.
2. Bucks
Injuries to key players wreaked havoc on the Bucks’ title defense last season. They were without their second-best player (Khris Middleton) down the stretch and fell to the No. 3 seed, which deprived them of home-court advantage in the season-ending loss to the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs. Improved health will clearly help, and the Bucks did make what may end up as a noteworthy move by trading for Joe Ingles, a talented playmaking wing who spaces the floor. He will miss a good chunk of the season due to a torn ACL suffered in January.
The contenders
3. 76ers
Joel Embiid, James Harden and Co. got better at the margins, improving their depth and defense around the two stars. Newcomers De’Anthony Melton, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House should be valuable reserves, providing needed two-way ability for the 76ers after a disappointing second-round playoff exit.
4. Nets
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are back after all the drama. The Nets acquired a quality wing in Royce O’Neale from the Jazz and signed a high-upside bench scorer in T.J. Warren plus they will get back sharpshooting guard Joe Harris after he missed most of last season due to an ankle injury. There obviously is a chance for this all to blow up. Durant previously told Nets owner Joe Tsai he would only return if coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks were fired before backtracking, the mercurial Irving is always an uncertainty and Ben Simmons is coming off a full season without stepping on the floor. But there is no doubt the Nets have the talent to compete at the top of the conference.
5. Heat
The Heat were a Jimmy Butler 3-point miss shy of reaching the NBA Finals for the second time in three years, but getting back to that point could prove challenging. It was a quiet offseason in South Beach despite ample rumors of a major trade for the likes of Durant and Mitchell. They also failed to bring back veteran forwards P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, losing them to Eastern rival 76ers and Nets, respectively.
The sleepers
6. Cavaliers
The Knicks’ loss was the Cavaliers’ gain. By acquiring Mitchell from the Jazz in a blockbuster trade, Cleveland now has one of the league’s best young rosters. The three-time All-Star Mitchell will pair with rising star Darius Garland in the backcourt, and the Cavs have a trio up front of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro. Those five players are each 25 years of age or younger. The Cavaliers are coming off of a breakthrough 44-win season, and Mitchell makes this already dangerous team significantly better.
7. Raptors
The Raptors had the pieces — think: reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes and fellow young wing OG Anunoby — to land Durant. Instead, they will continue to build around the two youngsters. The signing of Otto Porter Jr., the one significant newcomer, gives the Raptors more depth on the wing.
8. Hawks
Atlanta didn’t take the next step as expected last season, sagging instead of surging after a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. The Hawks, who went one-and-done in the playoffs, proactively upgraded their roster, though, by trading for Murray, one of the league’s best all-around guards. A first-time All-Star this past season, the 25-year-old star will join Trae Young in a dynamic backcourt. They also could end up with a steal in first-round pick A.J. Griffin, a top-10-type talent who fell to the Hawks at No. 16.
The pretenders
9. Bulls
The Bulls’ offseason didn’t include any major additions after their first playoff appearance since 2017. The big move was re-signing franchise cornerstone Zach LaVine to a five-year, $215.2 million deal. Veterans Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic could help this young team that is looking to prove last season’s 46-win campaign was a precursor of its bright future.
10. Knicks
Brunson’s addition gives the Knicks a true point guard in his prime for the first time in what feels like ages. Isaiah Hartenstein should provide a new dimension as a rim-protecting big man who also can stretch the floor and create for others. But the Knicks needed to do more to climb higher. As currently constructed, they feel like a 43-win team. The hope for further improvements has to come from the young core, that Quentin Grimes takes a significant step as a 3-and-D contributor and Obi Toppin forces coach Tom Thibodeau’s hand to get him on the floor more. Julius Randle’s status as this team’s alpha dog feels as if it is changing. He will be asked to play with the ball less and needs to adjust.
The rest
The Hornets and Wizards are two more teams that could end up finishing in the top 10. Charlotte, led by point guard LaMelo Ball, won 43 games last season and filled a need in the middle by drafting Duke big man Mark Williams in the first round. The uncertain status of standout forward Miles Bridges, who faces felony domestic violence and child abuse charges, hangs over the franchise. Washington brought back All-Star Bradley Beal on a max deal, but made just one addition of significance in lottery-pick Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis — unless you count bringing in Taj Gibson as significant. The Pacers, Pistons and Magic have intriguing young pieces, the product of poor seasons that lead to high draft picks, but are not close to contending.
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