Knicks Takeaways from 2024 NBA Trade Deadline 1 Week Later

With a splashy—and significant—acquisition of OG Anunoby already in the bag, the New York Knicks wouldn't have turned too many heads by sitting out last week's NBA trade deadline.

They proactively beefed up their offense instead, sending out four players—including 2021 first-round pick Quentin Grimes—in a deal with the Detroit Pistons that brought back Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks.

The Knicks were right to get aggressive given the high-end form they'd flashed when mostly full-strength, which, when coupled with some question marks about a few of the East's top contenders, give this group a chance to do something really special this season.

Let's dig into three post-deadline takeaways about this team.

Adding More Long-Range Shooters Was a Smart Move

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 10: Alec Burks #18 of the New York Knicks shoots a three point basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on February 10, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Given the problems presented to opposing defenses by Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle off the bounce—and, when healthy, Mitchell Robinson above the rim—it makes sense for the 'Bockers to seek optimal spacing around them.

They took a big step toward having exactly that with the trade for Bogdanović and Burks, both of whom have buried better than 38 percent of their career three-point tries.

Between the newcomers, Donte DiVincenzo's emergence as a quality-plus-quantity sharpshooter and the spacing upgrade from swapping out RJ Barrett for Anunoby, New York suddenly has a depth of deep-distance threats.

In other words, there's room to grow for a Knicks offense that already ranks eighth in efficiency, per NBA.com.

Their Full-Strength Roster Is Fully Loaded

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 1: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks celebrates with Jalen Brunson #11, Julius Randle #30, and Josh Hart #3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden on January 1, 2024 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Before overindulging on optimism, let's start with a warning: It's possible the Knicks will never be full strength this season. While it sounds like Mitchell Robinson is trending the right direction with his rehab from a stress fracture in his left ankle, it's still uncertain when—or if—New York will get its starting big man back.

If the basketball gods ever grant this group a clean bill of health, though, we could see an absurd amount of depth at coach Tom Thibodeau's disposal. Moreover, this puzzle has come together in really intriguing ways.

Anunoby looked like the ultimate two-way connector before being forced under the knife by an elbow injury. He gave the Knicks the always-coveted big-wing defender, while providing the right amount of offensive punch as the third option. DiVincenzo's ascension and the deal with Detroit upped the team's shooting, scoring and shot-creation. Robinson's possible return, meanwhile, would form a ferocious two-headed monster at the 5 with Isaiah Hartenstein.

And we still haven't brought up do-it-all swingman Josh Hart. Or feisty defensive floor general Miles McBride. Or energetic big man Precious Achiuwa. Or spring-loaded center Jericho Sims. You get the idea.

Again, we'll maybe never see this roster with a full complement of players, but good luck to anyone facing this group if we do.

If They Ever Get Healthy, Anything Is Possible for This Season

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 10: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks looks on from the bench during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on February 10, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

The Knicks last won a title in 1973. Their most recent trip to the championship round came back in 1999. Their previous decade yielded all of two playoff trips and a single series victory.

Tempering expectations for this team is almost always the right move.

If there were ever a time to let the imagination run wild, though, this is it.

New York was nothing short of a buzz saw with Anunoby on the floor, winning 12 of the 14 games he played and posting a wholly dominant plus-15.1 net rating over that stretch. And remember, all of that came after Robinson's injury and before the deal with Detroit. There's a chance this squad is really stinkin' good.

How many other Eastern Conference clubs can make that claim? The Boston Celtics, sure, but the Philadelphia 76ers are without MVP center Joel Embiid for who knows how long, and the Milwaukee Bucks have been worryingly wobbly so far under new coach Doc Rivers. Considering those three clubs were the consensus choices for inner-circle contenders in the conference, this race feels wide open behind Boston.

Why can't New York make a run to the Conference Finals? And if the Knicks get that far, who's to say what could happen in a seven-game series with a championship-round ticket on the line? The New York faithful has been conditioned not to put the proverbial horse before the cart, but if this group gets healthy, nothing feels off-limits for what it can do.