Knicks Hot Takes 2 Months into 2023-24 NBA Season
The first two months of the 2023-24 NBA season has been a mixed bag for the New York Knicks.
There's been more good than bad, but not by an overwhelming amount. And the gap between them undoubtedly shrunk upon the loss of starting center—and Defensive Player of the Year candidate—Mitchell Robinson to ankle surgery.
While we haven't learned a lot about this team that we didn't already know, we have seen enough to put together a trio of hot takes.
Jalen Brunson Is an All-Star Lock
1 of 3
OK, so this take isn't exactly a scorcher, as Jalen Brunson arguably deserved an All-Star nod last season. Still, it's worth noting that the 27-year-old should have the inside track on what could be a crowded race for All-Star honors.
In 2022-23, he played a bit passive at the start to avoid stepping on anyone's toes on his then-new team. He didn't need any introductory period this time around, allowing him to get in high gear a lot sooner. And he's not only more aggressive than ever, he's also maintaining his efficiency through the best three-point shooting of his career.
His stat line is loaded with personal-bests, including his 24.6 points, 2.9 three-pointers, 1.0 steals and 42.9 percent perimeter splash rate. It's hard to overstate the importance of his growth as a long-distance shooter given how many inside-the-arc scorers he has around him in this starting lineup.
The competition for the Eastern Conference All-Star roster will be ferocious, but if the spots were selected today, Brunson should get one.
A Consolidation Trade Makes Tons of Sense
2 of 3
The Knicks have more good perimeter players than coach Tom Thibodeau can play.
That should surprise no one, seeing how this roster has just a single power forward and three centers.
Because things are so crowded, it's made things tricky for Thibodeau to strike the right balance. We've already heard gripes from both Josh Hart and Quentin Grimes about their roles. There could be more dissatisfaction moving forward givent he lack of available minutes.
While New York won't complain about having too many talented players, the congestion does increase the appeal of a consolidation trade. The Knicks probably need a superstar addition to contend, and while they don't have a singular blue-chip trade asset, they could deliver their trade partner multiple draft picks and a handful of plug-and-play players.
No One on the Roster Should Be Off-Limits
3 of 3
The Knicks have patiently awaited the arrival of the right star target on the trade market. It could still be a while before that player comes along.
New York is smart not to rush things. While an elite addition would increase this club's championship chances, the worst thing this front office could go would be to splurge on the wrong player. Remember, the Knicks' best trade offer revolves around quantity not quality, so even parting with a few trade chips could torpedo their chances of brokering a blockbuster down the line.
Whenever New York's preferred target comes along, though, this front office should be prepared to pounce at virtually any cost. There isn't anyone on this roster who should stand in the way of a superstar pursuit. If that player resided in Gotham, the Knicks would've scratched their itch for an elite already.
Now, there probably aren't many scenarios in which a star trade would involve someone like Jalen Brunson or Julius Randle, since teams don't typically maintain win-now intentions when trading away a high-end hooper. But if a hypothetical deal that delivered a star required the loss of Brunson, Randle or anyone else on this roster, the Knicks shouldn't consider anyone off-limits.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
