Knicks News: Despite $47 Million Villanova Reunion, 26-YO’s Exit Exposes Glaring Problem in Tom Thibodeau’s Roster

The New York Knicks welcomed Mikal Bridges this summer, completing the reunion of the Villanova boys. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, and Bridges were all teammates during their college days. Sounds too perfect right? Well, the Knicks have plenty of talented scorers on their roster. However, in search of a reliable scorer to join Jalen Brunson, the front office missed out on a crucial spot. Apart from Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks lack a reliable rim protector. They previously had Isaiah Hartenstein who took care of the paint, but haven’t found his replacement yet.

This might become more of a problem for the head coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau isn’t a fan of a small-ball lineup, but with the current roster in place, he might have to settle with the same. Robinson has been a Knick ever since he came into the league. At best, the 7-footer has not played more than 27 minutes a game. While Hartenstein also averaged similar minutes during the season, the 26-year-old did not fail to impress during the postseason. Now, the Knicks can either go small-ball or look to prioritize Robinson’s production.

Tim Bontemps believes that the Knicks would better go small-ball in this situation. “With Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein, they didn’t have a dominant center, but they had 48 minutes of really high-level center play when they were both healthy,” Bontemps said on the ‘NBA on ESPN’ show. “And Isaiah Hartenstein was a huge piece for the Knicks last year and losing him, like that is the one thing for all the moves they made this summer, they did not replace him,” he noted. 

The NBA writer also laid another option, which is to “play small.” In this respect, he suggested that the team “play OG Anunoby at center in lineups with Julius Randle, Mikal Bridges, and either DiVincezno or Hart and Brunson and try to go small and space the floor and fly up and down the court and not necessarily have a typical traditional rim protector out there.”

A recent example of a successful small-ball lineup is the 2022 Golden State Warriors. With 6’9″ Kevon Looney as the tallest player in the starting five, the Warriors beat the Celtics in the Finals. For the Knicks, OG Anunoby can look to play the role of a rim protector. However, he won’t be a threat in the paint and is certainly not the type of player Thibodeau would want to play at the five. Regardless, is there any chance the Knicks can trade for a center at this point?

The New York Knicks have exhausted their trade options

Currently, the Knicks are planning to extend Julius Randle. While Brunson’s $113 million sacrifice has helped the front office with some flexibility, adding another player would be tough. But why is that? The Knicks are above the first apron limit. At this point, the Knicks will have to match dollar-for-dollar when looking for a trade. This not only complicates their trade scenario but also keeps them in a situation where they’ll have to settle for small-ball.

If anything, with Randle and Bridges in the starting lineup alongside Brunson, the Knicks have the offense all figured out. However, they’ll have to put in extra effort on the defensive end. Teams like the Bucks and the Sixers can become a problem for the Knicks who might plan to go small this upcoming season. Nevertheless, if they do manage to bring in a center who can play just over 30 minutes a game, they’ll likely have a more balanced roster.

What are your thoughts on the Knicks? Do you think they can land a reliable center in the middle of the season? Let us know in the comments.

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.