(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks made a thrilling run to the brink of an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, and while they fell hard in Game 7 of the second round to the Indiana Pacers, their future is suddenly bright after many years of ineptitude and suffering.
At the same time, they have some real work to do if they are to be legitimate championship contenders next year.
They have to figure out whether Julius Randle is the second star they need alongside franchise player Jalen Brunson, and there are already trade rumors surrounding him.
Bill Simmons feels New York wants Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets and that they will overpay for him, per Evan Sidery.
.@BillSimmons believes Mikal Bridges will be traded from the Nets to Knicks this summer (https://t.co/GvHDFZYGpk):
“I think that’s who they want. I think they’ll overpay.” pic.twitter.com/5gZZAlLIXG
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 20, 2024
Bridges has blossomed ever since coming to the Nets midway through last season in the Kevin Durant trade, and he’s the type of young two-way player who could fit well within what the Knicks do.
He averaged 19.6 points a game this season and has emerged as a borderline All-Star caliber player for the New York City area’s “other” team.
However, the Knicks and Nets have feuded before, and one has to question whether the Nets would be willing to help the Knicks take the next step back to title contention.
Brunson did an admirable job carrying the Knicks this year, and he has become their first true franchise player since Patrick Ewing in the 1990s, but toward the end of their playoff run this year, he seemed tired.
But the team now has depth and excellent supporting players who can score, and it seems as if all it needs is a legitimate second star in order to make a serious run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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