After making a blockbuster deal to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Knicks are all-in on a championship. But making such a large trade ratchets up the pressure.
There’s some pressure on Towns to fit in. There’s also pressure on the front office for the trade to work out. Arguably, much of the pressure will fall on Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau to make it all work. It will be the most substantial test the coach has faced since signing with the club in 2020.
After leading the Knicks to two playoff series wins and a 175-143 record after four seasons, Thibodeau signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the Knicks through the 2027-28 season. Thibodeau has taken the Knicks to the most success the franchise has experienced in the last two decades.
In the past four years, the Knicks have grown from happy to make the playoffs to a contender. With contender status comes expectations. New York’s moves to acquire Towns and Mikal Bridges have put a spotlight on the club. The Knicks likely head into the season with the highest expectations for the franchise since the start of the century.
Adding Towns is a massive talent upgrade for the Knicks but it also takes Thibodeau out of his comfort zone as a coach. During his four-year tenure, Thibodeau has succeeded with a low-usage center that focused on offensive rebounding and rim protection. Since the 2020-21 season, no Knicks starting center has averaged more than 8.5 points.
With a career average of 22.9 points in nine years, Towns is completely different. He is an elite scoring center that causes havoc for opposing defenses outside and inside. Thibodeau has the task of finding ways to utilize Towns in the best possible role and making the pick-and-roll partnership between the big man and Jalen Brunson hum.
Adjusting to new personnel
Towns’ ability to space the floor as a three-point shooter is great for the offense but could have an impact on the team’s ability to dominate on the offensive glass. The Knicks have been one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the NBA over the last four years. The team finished first…
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