The New York Knicks are coming off an impressive postseason run. Although the media criticized the team for their shortcomings, the Knicks showed a lot of promise with their new core. With their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years, the Knicks have proven they are capable of great things moving forward.
The Knicks’ front office recognizes the potential this team holds. With Mikal Bridges agreeing to a four-year max extension with New York, the Knicks have effectively secured their starting lineup for the future.
Led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, New York boasts one of the most potent offensive tandems in the league. Supporting them are solid role players like OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, who bolster the defense and perimeter shooting.
Overall, New York has an incredibly balanced and formidable starting lineup, one that is capable of going up against the best in the league.
The Knicks have heavily invested in this core to chase a championship. With multiple big-budget contracts, we take a look at the total amount New York has committed to the salaries of their starting lineup.
New York Knicks Starting Lineup Contracts:
Karl-Anthony Towns – $171.2 million, three years
OG Anunoby – $175.8 million, four years
Jalen Brunson – $156.5 million, four years
Mikal Bridges – $174.9 million, five years (inclusive of 2024-25 season)
Josh Hart – $62.7 million, three years
Total – $741.1 million over combined contract durations
Brunson and Bridges are entering the first years of their deals, while the rest of the lineup is already in year two of theirs. This gives the Knicks a three-year window at the least to secure title success with this core.
With Bridges’ extension, the Knicks are officially hard-capped at the second apron, signaling a full commitment to paying the luxury tax in pursuit of a title.
The Knicks have done more than simply re-sign key players this offseason, as their activities in the free agency and buyout markets have seen them make significant improvements. With the additions of Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson this offseason, New York has brought in necessary reinforcements to the bench.
With a new head coach in Mike Brown, the team is very likely to see a new identity, offensively and defensively. Although Thibodeau displayed a preference for the traditional half-court game, with a heavy emphasis on playing a small rotation, Brown has showcased a preference for a more high-octane, fast-paced offense.
Brown has also shown a preference for players who are capable of creating shots for themselves. In this regard, players like Brunson and Towns may thrive, and even Anunoby may receive a green light to initiate offense more often. But Bridges and Hart could find themselves in more tertiary roles.
While the Knicks certainly look like one of the top teams in the East heading into the 2025-26 campaign, they could still be in the process of upgrading their roster. Links to players like Ben Simmons have more or less cooled off at this stage, as per recent reports, but the market still has a lot of talented players available.
Rumors also suggested that a huge trade may be in the works. However, rumors involving a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo appear speculative, especially after Bridges’ extension likely eliminated any realistic path to trading for him.
The possibility of Karl-Anthony Towns being on the trade block remains. Although he put up strong individual numbers, Towns faced criticism for his defense, earning low grades in postseason evaluations following his arrival in New York.
Should the Knicks consider looking for upgrades in a trade involving Towns, New York could be on the verge of becoming a drastically different team in the upcoming season.
