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Many will question whether the New York Knicks are much better off after losing Isaiah Hartenstein.
Let’s not overthink this.
Hartenstein leaves a significant void up front. But a healthier Mitchell Robinson offsets much of the defensive value he takes with him, and New York can prop up even more offensive dynamism with front lines featuring Julius Randle and OG Anunoby.
Speaking of Anunoby: The Knicks lost just five times after his arrival, across the playoffs and regular season, whenever he played more than five minutes. He is forever a risk to miss time, but the gaps in his availability last year also mean New York has room to grow with him.
A healthier Randle will help, too. He’s a divisive figure in national (and Knicks) circles, but his utility as a creator is undeniable in the context of this roster. He also did a better job of embracing and executing accessory work around Jalen Brunson last year.
Then, of course, there’s Mikal Bridges. He is not a conventional superstar by any stretch, but his universal scalability is its own superpower. Having him upgrades New York’s perimeter defense, shooting, off-ball movement, secondary playmaking and lineup flexibility. That seems pretty good.
Perfection is not a line the Knicks are straddling. But that’s true of any team outside Boston, Oklahoma City and, possibly, Minnesota. What the Knicks are, though, is deeper and better at the top of their depth chart relative to last season, even if Brunson tumbles outside the top five of MVP consideration.
By Max Winters Published: 00:12 BST, 21 September 2024 | Updated: 00:29 BST, 21 September 2024
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