Top 5: Celtics biggest threats
Oh no. The Knicks think they had a great off season. They brought in the sassiest big man in the league. Hey if ESPN wants to keep this hate train rolling on the Celtics I’m all for it. They steam rolled through the league last year wire to wire ending with the championship. It goes with out saying a team like that naturally needs a little juice to get back into Kill Mode. Generally, that doesn’t come from the “nobody believed in us” mantra after one of the most dominate seasons in NBA history. But, if that’s how they want to play I’ll take that low hanging peach all day.
That being said, the Knicks did improve. KAT and Mikal Bridges add talent to that roster. It’s as good as the Celtics, but it’s cute. The 76ers brought in another version of James Harden to fall short in the playoffs and Dame couldn’t find the time to summer in Greece. Who actually could challenge the Celtics in the East this year?
Top 5: Threats to Celtics
Knicks
Karl Anthony Towns trade:
The Knicks will receive Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves and the draft rights to James Nnaji from the Charlotte Hornets.
The Timberwolves will receive Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Keita Bates-Diop from the Knicks, as well as a top-13 protected first-round pick that originally belonged to the Detroit Pistons.
The Hornets will get second round picks in 2025, 2026 and 2023, plus DaQuan Jeffreis, Charlie Brown Jr. and Darius Washington all from the Knicks via sign-and-trade. They will also get $7.2 million in cash.
Malik Bridges trade:
Knicks receive:
Mikal Bridges
Keita Bates-Diop
2026 2nd-round pick
Draft rights to Juan Pablo Vaulet
Nets receive:
Bojan Bogdanovic
Mamadi Diakite
Shake Milton
unprotected 1st-round pick in 2025
unprotected 1st-round pick in 2027
unprotected 1st-round pick in 2029
unprotected 1st-round pick in 2031
unprotected pick swap in 2028
top-four protected 2025 1st-round pick via Bucks
2nd round pick in 2025
As Bobby Marks so bravely stated for clicks and views; "I would even go on record right now and say that this New York team, their starting five, is the best starting five in the NBA on paper,"
Lets take a look at how that shakes out?
Jalen Brunson Jrue Holiday
Mikal Bridges Derrick White
OG Anunoby Jalen Brown
Josh Hart Jayson Tatum
Kart Anthony Towns Kristaps Porzingus
On paper you can’t deny the talent for the Knicks. You also should not deny that the talent on the Celtics is just better Not only that, but the way the Celtics play as a team on both ends of the court is yet to be seen with this Knicks lineup. The way Brunson dominates the ball offensively can Thibodeau make the right adjustments when necessary. And in terms of depth, forget about it. The Knicks flat line after their top 5. Celtics could field and 8 seed with 6 - 10 on the bench. Next up?
76ers
Skinny Embid is officially a thing
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid said he has lost "25 to 30 pounds" this offseason and he's entering his 11th NBA season with one goal -- to have the first fully healthy playoff run of his career. "I still got a ways to go. I still want to lose more, but it's a process" Embiid said.
Philadelphia is still trusting the process. Can’t knock their determination towards mediocrity.
Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andrew Drummond were all added to the roster so they could recreate the underwhelming performance of the James Harden, Danny Green, Tobias Harris 76ers from just a couple seasons ago.
Apologies. They also added the French Panda, Guerschon Yabusele. Odds just stacked up against the Celtics.
Bucks
Lillard and Giannis aren’t friends
At Bucks media day, Giannis revealed that he and Lillard didn't work out together this summer, a fact Lillard would confirm in his own media day interviews. "We didn't work out physically together, no. I planned to go to Greece.
The Buck’s off season was highlighted by their 23rd and 33rd overall draft picks and Gary Trent Jr. as a league minimum free agent. Okay…
Oh, and Doc Rivers.
Pacers
The team that has been given praise for pushing the Celtics the hardest in the playoffs as they were swept out of the Eastern Finals finished 22nd in defense in 2023. There is no evidence to point to them making any significant move to address this. Although there was a slight improvement when Siakam joined the team. Haliburton is going to need to make a massive leap to give the Celtics any real scare.
Cavs
Donovan Mitchell and then.... ???
Evan Mobley has the potential to be a difference maker with improvement, but beyond that this team is lacking key pieces and depth. Darius Garland is a nice offensive player when the bright lights are turned down.
Magic
Too young? Not enough offensively. Their shooting percentage was at the bottom of the league last year. Of Players with 25% or more usage rate, Banchero ranked 43 of 45 in shooting percentage. You just can’t live in Brick City and compete in the NBA.
Heat
Rozier, Herro, Butler, Bam barely played together last year. Bam seems like he’s getting even better after watching him in the playoffs carry the Heat the best he could and then in the Olympics as their most consistent big. This is Formattable in the playoffs if healthy. I still don’t discount Heat culture and Jimmy Butler’s balls. However, I think with Jimmy’s balls getting older the culture is hanging a little lower than what it once was.