The Knicks are nonetheless working by way of the main points of their blockbuster commerce for Karl-Anthony Cities, which has but to be finalized. Why did they select to go all-in on the 28-year-old huge man?
For starters, president of basketball operations Leon Rose was Cities’ consultant when he was the pinnacle agent at CAA, notes Ian Begley of SNY.television. Knicks government William Wesley can be shut with the Cities household, per Begley — clearly there’s an affinity between the 2 sides.
As Begley writes, the Knicks view Cities as a great complementary piece to their core roster, notably on offense with Jalen Brunson. Cities’ presence ought to create extra driving traces for Brunson and make it harder for opponents to lure him.
Begley confirms New York has coveted Cities for a while, however commerce talks with Minnesota didn’t decide up steam till the Knicks signaled a willingness to incorporate Donte DiVincenzo within the package deal. Begley isn’t certain why the Knicks modified their thoughts — they had been against dealing DiVincenzo for almost all of the offseason.
In keeping with Begley, DiVincenzo wasn’t thrilled with the thought of enjoying a lowered position this season after he had a profession 12 months in 2023/24. Nonetheless, Begley doesn’t assume that had a lot to do with New York’s determination — he speculates that Julius Randle‘s contract state of affairs (he could be a free agent in 2025 if he declines his 2025/26 participant possibility) and Mitchell Robinson‘s damage absence had been possible larger components.
Right here’s extra on the 2 New York-based groups:
- Whereas all eyes will likely be on Cities with coaching camp about to start, Stefan Bondy of The New York Put up believes Mikal Bridges is the “most intriguing” participant the Knicks acquired this offseason. Bondy tasks a beginning lineup of Brunson, Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Cities, with Miles McBride possible the group’s sixth man. With main roster modifications and a few gamers coming off accidents, Bondy expects the Knicks to look sluggish in preseason.
- Ben Simmons‘ well being is the most important storyline to observe for the Nets as they enter coaching camp, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Put up. Simmons has appeared in simply 57 of 246 common season video games over the previous three seasons — together with 15 in 2023/24 — and is coming off a second again surgical procedure. Nevertheless, he’s totally cleared for camp and has been one of many group’s standouts in pickup video games, sources inform Lewis. Second-year huge man Noah Clowney and offseason acquisition Ziaire Williams are two different gamers who’ve performed effectively in casual video games forward of camp, Lewis provides.
- In a pair of tales for The New York Put up, Lewis examines the opposite Nets storylines forward of coaching camp and gives a rundown of their 20-man roster, which is one participant shy of the offseason restrict.
