3 Knicks storylines and questions as training camp sets to open
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson dribbles upcourt in the second quarter in Game 5 of te\he NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 14 at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The Knicks, coming off two consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals, enter training camp on Monday with expectations that haven’t accompanied the franchise in decades.
With an offseason that stoked as much optimism as their 50-win season — signing Jalen Brunson to a team-friendly extension, securing coach Tom Thibodeau’s future with the team and adding another Villanova standout in Mikal Bridges, and, oh yeah, trading for Karl-Anthony Towns this weekend — the Knicks are not only in the conversation of title contenders but also have earned praise from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as a smartly-] managed organization.
Still, there are plenty of storylines and questions that need to be answered.
1. Man in the middle
While the Knicks have built a deep and talented roster, the one spot that always was going to be a question mark was at center with Isaiah Hartenstein, who started 49 games last season, going to Oklahoma City in free agency. And the questions only grew louder after we learned that Mitchell Robinson would be sidelined at least until December or January.
Those questions were answered late Friday night when the Knicks traded for Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns.
2. A better Brunson
The common denominator for Jalen Brunson throughout his career — and really, since high school — has been that he's gotten better every season while exceeding expectations along the way.
So after a season in which he earned second-team All-NBA honors and finished fifth in the MVP balloting, can he get better?
His season ended in disappointment and injury. And while his contract extension — signing this summer rather than waiting for a larger deal next summer — allowed the team additional flexibility, he quickly reverted to form, getting in the gym and figuring out how to he can improve his game.
3. Robinson’s future
And in the wake of another injury-riddled season, it’s easy to forget how important Robinson was at the beginning of last season — dominating on the offensive glass and anchoring the defense. But at what point do the Knicks lose faith in counting on his health? Robinson has missed 146 games in six seasons and there is a fear that a player of his size with foot or leg injuries is prone to repeated problems.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
