The New York Knicks are all-in on their quest for an NBA championship. However, they may have opened themselves up to slight vulnerability in addressing a more significant need. On Fanduel TV's Run it Back, former NBA forward Chandler Parsons reveals the Knicks' main issue going into the season after a plethora of moves.
"I can argue that losing (Donte) DiVincenzo and (Isaiah) Hartenstein hurts them more than losing Julius Randle, for sure," Parsons began . "The depth, the size, the playmaking in the pick-and-roll that Hartenstein would do. Now, Mitchell Robinson, he's kinda always banged up. That is a huge hole for them."
As is always the case, you need to have more than five players to win. While Karl-Anthony Towns is the perfect fit alongside Jalen Brunson, the Knicks opened a can of worms by sacrificing their depth. Robinson is still out, so they will have to rely on Precious Achiuwa, Deuce McBride, and TJ Warren to supply bench minutes. It's doable but tricky.
However, as huge as losing Hartenstein was for them, they couldn't ultimately do anything about it. That was purely a salary cap issue, and the Knicks unfortunately got the short end of the stick. On the other hand, throwing in DiVincenzo in the KAT-Randle trade was a gamble. After all, the 2021 NBA champ averaged a career-high 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting a 40% clip from deep for the Knicks last year.
'Scary on paper'
Depth issues aside, the Knicks may have the best starting five in the league right now. After Towns and Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges will be all over the floor on both sides of the ball.
Few could match the defensive versatility in that lineup, theoretically hiding KAT and Brunson's deficiencies. And then, on offense, the Knicks have the potential to be a juggernaut .
"On paper, this team is scary," acknowledged the former NBA vet. "On paper, this fits. On paper, this looks better as an offensive fit with Towns than Randle… Towns, the way he shoots threes, picks and pops, spaces the floorーI think offensively, that is gonna be a much better fit… They got a lot better this year, but depth is my only concern."
Related: Julius Erving believes no player is similar to him in the modern NBA: “I was a small forward, but I really played like a power forward”
Preseason provocations
DiVincenzo and Knicks assistant Rick Brunson had to be separated after the Knicks-Wolves preseason game. The two exchanged words, possibly stemming from the 6'5 guard chirping directed toward Tom Thibodeau and the New York bench. Jalen's dad may have felt Donte pushed the envelope too far and let him know about it.
It's awkward having beef with your best friend's dadーDiVincenzo was Brunson's best man at his weddingー, but right now, it is what it is. Donte's relationship with Jalen did not deter Rick from saying something to DDV, and vice versa.
Still, fans can't shake the feeling that this is just the beginning. The Knicks will visit Minneapolis on December 19, which should be something to look forward to.
Related: "I wear my heart on my sleeve, and that's all it was" - DiVincenzo downplays postgame altercation Jalen Brunson's dad
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