The path to the NBA Finals through the Eastern Conference is seemingly getting easier and easier, and one writer believes the New York Knicks have a great chance to successfully traverse that path in 2025-26.
The Athletic's Eric Koreen went through the conference and categorized each team based on their ability to contend. There were eight tiers, and the Knicks were placed into the second tier: The contenders.
The Knicks were placed in this tier behind the Orlando Magic, falling behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were listed alone in "The Favorite" tier. This is what Koreen wrote about the Knicks.
"After a calamitous coaching search, they have reportedly landed on Mike Brown as their new head coach," Koreen wrote. "We will see if he is an upgrade on Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks have also battled some concerning chemistry dynamics. But they’ve had a sneaky good offseason, given their limited spending power. Adding Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele at the minimum and the tax-payer midlevel exception, respectively, is nice pruning around the edges. The Knicks might be the most likely team at the top of the East to still pull off a trade, but they are a threat as is."
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The Knicks have brought back their entire core from last season that includes Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, and Deuce McBride.
After throwing Yabusele and Clarkson in the mix, new coach Mike Brown should have ample opportunity to experiment with an extremely talented lineup and get them back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
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