Knicks Shock NBA With Blockbuster Trade — What It Means for New York’s Playoff Push

The New York Knicks have opened preseason with a bold new identity, and early returns suggest the franchise may finally be ready to storm the Eastern Conference hierarchy. New coach, new tempo Two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown wasted no time imprinting his up-tempo philosophy. After ranking 26th in pace last season, the Knicks pushed the ball relentlessly in back-to-back wins over the Philadelphia 76ers in Abu Dhabi, scoring 118 and 121 points while dishing 30-plus assists each night. Brown’s motion offense freed Jalen Brunson to play off the ball in spurts and showcased Karl-Anthony Towns’ expanded range. Second-unit overhaul solves 2024-25’s biggest flaw New York owned the NBA’s lowest-scoring bench a year ago, but president Leon Rose attacked that weakness by signing Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele and former Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon. Clarkson debuted with 16 points in 18 minutes overseas, providing the instant offense Tom Thibodeau never found last spring. Front-court shake-up on the horizon Brown has already tested Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward alongside rim-protector Mitchell Robinson during camp scrimmages. The jumbo look gives New York elite shot-blocking without sacrificing floor spacing—Towns drilled 41 percent from deep last season—while sliding Swiss-army-knife Josh Hart into a super-sub role that bolsters bench depth. Lineup flexibility at the wings Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby return as two-way cornerstones, but Deuce McBride’s 12-point, 5-for-7 shooting line in the preseason opener sparked talk of a smaller, switch-heavy starting five. McBride’s ascension would plant five legitimate three-point threats around Brunson, fully weaponizing Brown’s pace-and-space scheme. Why the East feels wide open Season-long injuries to Jayson Tatum (Celtics) and Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) have tilted the conference balance toward healthy, deep rosters. Cleveland looms with Donovan Mitchell, but no team outside the Knicks boasts the same blend of star power, size and newfound depth. New York’s Oct. 22 season opener against the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden could double as an early playoff preview. Key dates and looming decisions • Oct 14 vs. Timberwolves: final preseason tune-up and the next litmus test for Brown’s rotation. • Oct 18: last day to guarantee contracts for Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews. • Oct 22: regular-season opener vs. Cleveland—Mitchell Robinson’s starting status and Jordan Clarkson’s role likely set in stone by tip-off. Bottom line With a modernized offense, a rebuilt bench and a weakened field, the New York Knicks enter 2025-26 positioned for their deepest run since the turn of the millennium. If Mike Brown’s system clicks as quickly as it appears, Madison Square Garden might spend spring echoing with a chant that once felt like fantasy: “Eastern Conference champions.”