It was an eventful offseason for the New York Knicks. When they traded for Mikal Bridges last June, the front office seemed set to start the season with the Villanova Four & Co.
The franchise had one more move to put the NBA in a frenzy right before the start of training camp. They acquired Karl-Anthony Towns in a trade where Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected first-round pick went back to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With Towns coming to New York, the Knicks' offense will have more floor space. It will also provide a dynamic two-man game between Towns and Jalen Brunson.
New York is ultimately going for it. With a possible starting five of Brunson, Towns, Bridges, Hart, and Anunoby, each player is well into their prime to try and compete for an NBA championship.
With the season starting soon, I will review season averages and pick a player I like for specific statistical categories, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Mikal Bridges
Average 20+ Points Per Game (+440)
He made it to the other side of the bridge (pun intended). Mikal Bridges no longer has to be the main guy for a Brooklyn Nets team in the rebuilding stage.
Bridges will play with two former college teammates and be a valuable third option on the offensive end. Not being the main point of attack for defenses will do wonders for Bridges, as he succeeded in a similar role during his time with the Phoenix Suns, where he was a 3&D player.
When he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, his offensive arsenal expanded, and he became a number one option. He averaged 26.1 points in a 27-game stretch after he was traded. Last season was more of a struggle for Bridges, as he averaged 19.6 points for a struggling Nets team.
Playing alongside Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns should give Bridges the opportunity to score efficiently and find open space off the ball to attack defenses. Brunson is the main ball-handler, and Towns can work both inside and out and handle the basketball. That gives Bridges a chance to do damage, especially from 3-point range.
Depending on how head coach Tom Thibodeau will set up the rotation, Bridges can also see some time playing with the second unit and being the primary option.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Average 11+ Rebounds Per Game (+400)
This is the most intriguing bet to me.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a solid rebounder. The 7-footer has a career average of 10.8 rebounds per game. He hasn't averaged 10+ rebounds since the 2020-2021 season, but there's a good chance KAT makes it a priority to crash the boards this season.
In Towns' best seasons rebounding the basketball, he averaged 12+ rebounds for three consecutive seasons. During those three seasons, a particular head coach valued his players to give total effort when grabbing rebounds. I wonder who that head coach is? You guessed it, Tom Thibodeau.
Now back with Thibs for a reunion in New York, Towns knows what Thibodeau expects from his players, especially his bigs. With Mitchell Robinson likely out until next year, Towns must prioritize crashing the glass.
Jalen Brunson
Average 8+ Assists Per Game (+155)
Jalen Brunson is a fantastic offensive player. He's an elite three-level scorer who can manipulate defenses and easily get to his spots.
As the point guard and franchise player for the Knicks, Brunson will draw most of the attention from opposing teams. That shouldn't be a problem, as he will have many options to pass the ball to.
From a talent perspective, this is the best team Jalen Brunson has played for. He has shooters around him when he breaks defenses or draws a double-team. The pick-and-pop between him and Towns should be a valuable weapon, as Towns is one of the best shooters in the league, shooting 41 percent from distance last season.
Brunson averaged 6.7 assists last season, and during the postseason, he increased that number to 7.5. He's going into a full season with OG Anunoby and should quickly get acclimated to playing with Bridges, just like he did with Hart and DiVincenzo during his lone season last year.
Expect to see an increase in dimes from Captain Brunson.
