That’s a small lineup with no rim protection but maximizes the talent with the roster’s five best players.
So the best battles in camp will be for the reserve minutes.
Assuming Miles McBride is the sixth man, that leaves opportunities to win playing time for Precious Achiuwa, Jericho Sims, Tyler Kolek, Cam Payne and Landry Shamet. Who will impress in Charleston?
Mikal Bridges of Team USA is seen during the match between Team USA and Team Canada at FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines on September 10, 2023. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Story to watch develop
It’s one thing when a player joins a new team in the summer, but it’s quite another level of adjustment — both on and off the court — when the trade is a roster-shifting blockbuster completed just days before training camp.
Karl-Anthony Towns is the big storyline for the Knicks after a blockbuster trade. Robert Sabo for NY Post
He was relocated on the eve of training camp, lost focus, couldn’t get comfortable and struggled mightily. Conversely, Jrue Holiday was sent to Boston under similar circumstances and won a title.
Towns, 28, played his entire career in Minnesota, and now he’s reuniting with a coach he once criticized for hampering player development. Towns’ fit in the system, the culture and the locker room will be worth monitoring from Day 1.
Coach’s toughest challenge
Adjusting and reimagining the defense. Assuming Towns plays center until Mitchell Robinson returns ( which could be a while ), the Knicks won’t have a rim-protecting presence and the paint will be vulnerable.
Tom Thibodeau has some things to figure out for the Knicks as training camp approaches. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
It goes against the philosophies and schemes that made Tom Thibodeau’s defenses successful in New York.
The team also sacrificed depth in the trade, making health of the starters more of a priority.
He’s got competition at backup point guard — specifically from McBride, who fits better as a shooting guard, and newcomer Payne — but Kolek may already be the best passer on the roster.
Most intriguing newcomer
Even counting the Towns blockbuster, Bridges represents the biggest trade acquisition of the Leon Rose era and should fit seamlessly into the locker room with his college buddies.
It’s also assumed that Bridges, a role player with the Suns but No. 1 option in Brooklyn, can hit the ground running as the starting small forward.
We’ll see soon enough. Training camp is also about team bonding, and it would be smart for the Villanova trio — Brunson, Hart, Bridges — to incorporate the rest of the roster into the crew.
Most notable absence
Julius Randle had been a part of five straight training camps — the most on the Knicks because Robinson was injured for one — and now he’s off to freezing Minnesota .
The trade came just a few days after Randle had a South Bronx basketball court named after him because he helped donate over $1.3 million to the high school. Rough business.
Julius Randle is heading to Minnesota after Friday’s blockbuster trade. Robert Sabo for NY Post
On the court, Randle was the first three-time Knicks All-Star since Carmelo Anthony, the franchise’s 17th all-time leading scorer and fourth in 3-pointers made.
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