Dec 31, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Jalen Brunson (1) huddles with forward Eric Paschall (4) and guard Mikal Bridges (25) and guard Donte DiVincenzo (10) after a call against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Villanova defeated Creighton 80-70. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball: Villanova at Creighton
(New York, NY) – The New York Knicks have wasted no time trying to bolster their lineup at the start of the offseason.
On Tuesday, they shipped five first-round picks to their cross-town rival to acquire Mikal Bridges, former college teammate of the Knicks’ “Nova Boys” trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte Divincenzo. There is no doubt that chemistry has been a major factor in the team’s recent success and Bridges seems like the perfect fit for the gritty mindset that Tom Thibodeau has.
Just a day later it was reported that OG Anunoby would be returning to the Knicks on the largest contract in team history. The Knicks had a 26-6 record in games with the former Raptor. There was fear that Anunoby would walk in free agency and New York would have lost out on their one and done trading RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. The 3-and-D star is signing for $212.5 million over five years.
While it seems like a healthy Knicks team is geared up to compete for a championship, there is still a looming hole in this lineup. A lack of height could continue to lower this team’s ceiling.
Mitchell Robinson is the obvious starter at center, the problem is his availability. He has only played more than 60 games once in the last four seasons. In Robinson’s most recent absence Isaiah Hartenstein proved incredibly valuable, so much so that the Knicks are unlikely to be able to afford him in free agency.
This ultimately leaves Jericho Sims as the only backup center with an opportunity to move Precious Achiuwa up to a bigger role. The unfortunate reality is that this won’t be enough for the Knicks to take down the reigning champs.
Two major trade pieces are the aforementioned Robinson, and the man that began to turn things around for the Knicks, Julius Randle. The Villanova quartet along with Anunoby and Deuce McBride are a rotation that would fit well into the Thibs system.
Dumping Randle and Robinson for a quality center could be the difference between another second-round exit and New York’s first title in over half a century.
