The Knicks have been making waves all week, and Wednesday’s pre-draft turn was the report that OG Anunoby has agreed to return on a five-year, $212.5 million deal, locking up now two of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA with him and Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks maybe overperformed given their injuries in the playoffs, and now, the expectations with everyone healthy and Bridges aboard will be through the roof.
“I mean, boom, boom, boom…does Leon Rose sleep? I know he doesn't do TV interviews, so that frees up a lot of time, but I'm not sure if the man sleeps,” C-Mac said. “As much as I love Brian Cashman, Leon Rose is just running away with the best executive in this town. I mean, he's just done an incredible job, and now bringing back Anunoby? It’s a lot of money, but I think we saw what OG can be and how he transformed this team, and now, look at all the two-way wings this team has.”
There is, though, still some work to do.
“They’re gonna have to figure out the center position,” Chris said. “I don't know if it's Mitch Robinson, and it doesn’t sound like it's Hartenstein, but the roster isn't complete. I think they’ve done a remarkable job and to bring OG back was the linchpin; when they made the trade for Bridges, it almost doesn’t make sense if they don't bring back Anunoby – him instead of OG does not put them in the same category that we were looking to put them in – but it’s a big signing.”
Big in stature and contract, but does it mean Isaiah Hartenstein, another key piece of the playoff run, is the odd man out?
“We'll see if it's even plausible to have Hartenstein do something similar (take less money to return), because I would love to bring him back, especially with this team and the amount of scorers and wing shooters,” Chris said. “To be able to have his offensive skill set and his passing game would really help this team immensely, but they're gonna have to figure it out. But Leon Rose is wheeling and dealing, and he’s not sitting on the sideline for any of this stuff.”
And no matter what happens with Hartenstein, to C-Mac, it’s ‘let’s go’ time.
“This is the January Knicks plus Mikal Bridges, and I'll tell you this: as we are all hyped about the Subway Series, and certainly Met fans are all hyped about the Mets and Yankees fans are all hyped that hopefully this will at least be the end of Boone and Cashman, when was the last time we were this hyped for the beginning of a Knicks season?” he asked. “Last year we were excited that the team would be a playoff team for sure, had real hope that they could find themselves in the four or five seed and be a threat at least, and you would see some progression. But I don't think anybody, even the most pie in the sky fan, felt like it was a legit chance to be a championship contender – and whether or not they are, I think many Knicks fans will head into the season wondering who, besides Boston, is better. This is as much fun as we are going to have as Knicks fans in a long time. The Knicks are back!”
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