A 12 months in the past, the Knicks assembled at coaching camp in Charleson, S.C., with a theme of continuity.
They have been following a linear path towards enchancment and participant growth, returning almost each rotation piece from the season prior.
Within the phrases of Tom Thibodeau from the 2023 Media Day: “It’s all about inside growth.”
Now it’s about incorporating new and starry faces.
The overhaul up to now 12 months was huge.
Simply 4 gamers from the earlier coaching camp are returning to lively standing in Charleston.
The remainder: RJ Barrett (traded), Julius Randle (traded), Immanuel Quickley (traded), Quentin Grimes (traded), Evan Fournier (traded), Donte DiVincenzo (traded), Isaiah Hartenstein (departed in free company), Mitchell Robinson (injured).
The entrance workplace threw their chips into the offseason of 2024.
It de-stockpiled these draft picks and left behind a configuration with expectations of competing for a championship.
Mikal Bridges, the rangy wing who price 5 first-round draft picks to accumulate, is so dependable that his integration into the lineup and tradition is an afterthought.
He’s performed 474 consecutive video games performed, he’s comfy in a supporting function, he’s already shut buddies with the Villanova crew, and he’s clearly enthusiastic about becoming a member of the Knicks.
They’ll discover a strategy to make it work regardless of Bridges’ disappointing final season in Brooklyn.
There’s much less certainty concerning the newer acquisition, Karl-Anthony Cities — a four-time All-Star who adjustments the complexion of New York’s basketball id.
For the 4 seasons Tom Thibodeau has guided the Knicks, the coach has put in a rim-protecting heart who operates close to the basket and doesn’t deal with the ball for greater than 2 seconds at a time, at most.
His primary facilities — Mitchell Robinson, Nerlens Noel, Isaiah Hartenstein — made a mixed 9 3-pointers over 4 years. Additionally they cleaned up the offensive glass and deterred the opposition from driving.
Cities doesn’t actually try this stuff. In truth, the Timberwolves needed to purchase one other heart — Rudy Gobert — to do this stuff.
As an alternative, Cities provides elite 3-point capturing, maybe the most effective ever for a 7-footer.
His means to unfold the ground was why members of the Knicks group felt Cities was a greater match alongside Jalen Brunson than Randle, sources stated.
There was a way Randle, who requires the ball in isolation to attain, would maintain again Brunson, additionally an isolation participant, fairly than improve his recreation.
So in some methods, the Cities commerce was one more instance of the Knicks’ gamble on Brunson, the lately appointed staff captain who emerged within the playoffs as a scoring tour de power.
Cities can also be scorer, which the Knicks have been lacking within the playoffs, however does it in numerous methods — and it’s as much as Thibodeau to unlock them in brief order.
The Knicks, who have been No. 7 in offensive score and No. 9 in defensive score final season, have to regulate rapidly to emphasise their strengths.
On protection, that’s now clearly on the wings with Bridges, Anunoby and Josh Hart. On offense, probably the most scoring will come from the purpose guard and heart.
There’s additionally nuances, methods and potential pitfalls concerned with incorporating an enormous character like Cities within the combine.
Each Cities and Thibodeau perceive that higher than most.
Nearly precisely six years in the past, their Timberwolves season was destroyed throughout coaching camp as a result of Jimmy Butler bitterly dominated the starters in a observe, walked out of the health club, aired the soiled laundry to ESPN and demanded a commerce.
Butler was upset about his contract state of affairs, amongst different issues, and particularly savage towards the extremely paid Cities.
Thibodeau couldn’t survive the turmoil or a contentious relationship with the Timberwolves proprietor, Glen Taylor. He was canned just a few months after coaching camp, and Tuesday in Charleston will characterize a reunion between the coach and Cities.
This time, the expectation for camp is constructing a base for a long term within the playoffs with a totally revamped roster.
