The New York Knicks are still riding that NBA Finals high, fresh off ending a 53-year championship drought against the San Antonio Spurs just last month. You’d think everything would be sunshine and roses, right? Not so fast, because CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn just slapped them with a C-plus for their offseason moves so far, and honestly, it is making some serious waves.
A Champion’s Conundrum at Center
Mitchell Robinson’s departure to the Boston Celtics on a three-year contract is the biggest reason for that head-scratching grade. Losing a key piece like that, especially to a rival, leaves a massive hole in the middle. Quinn laid it out plain, saying the Knicks have to figure out their center situation, noting they don’t even have a third big man lined up yet. He even threw out the idea of finding someone at training camp or making a trade during the season. They tried to snatch Moussa Cissé with an offer sheet, but the Dallas Mavericks matched it. There’s still a tiny glimmer of hope, though, with Quinn wondering if the Mavericks, who already have 15 other guaranteed contracts, might just waive Cissé before the season kicks off, letting the Knicks swoop in.
Holding Onto Their Core, But Still Missing A Piece
To their credit, the Knicks weren’t just sitting around after Robinson dipped. They went out and signed Andre Drummond, bringing him in from the Philadelphia 76ers, where he’d spent the last two seasons. So, they at least have a plan instead of just winging it, which is something. What’s even better is that they managed to keep most of their own free agents. Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Muhammad Diawara, and Jordan Clarkson are all coming back to chase another ring. Robinson was the only one they couldn’t re-sign. Plus, they pulled all this off while staying underneath the dreaded second apron, which is a seriously difficult tightrope walk in the NBA. All that effort to retain talent and navigate salary cap rules makes you think, and honestly, I am with the guy who said he would amend Quinn’s grade up to a B.
So, yeah, the Knicks are NBA champions, but this offseason has been anything but smooth sailing. They made some smart moves, sure, locking up their core and bringing in Drummond. But the big question mark in the middle of the paint is still hanging out there. Can they find that missing third big, or will the departure of Robinson put a real damper on their title defense when the season kicks off? It is definitely something to watch as the next season gets closer.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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