Although the New York Knicks entered the 2025 offseason with minimal resources, it remains one of the most important summers in the franchise’s history. Rarely has this organization been in a position where slight improvements can make the team legitimate championship hopefuls. Coming off their best campaign in at least 25 years, New York can almost taste the title. However, they still had a lot of work to do, starting with a few moves over the past two weeks.
Grading the Knicks’ Off-Season So Far: B+
New York Aced Free Agency, Hired Mike Brown, and Made One Draft Pick
The NBA off-season can be looked at through three lenses: free agency/trades, coaching changes, and the draft. Teams in rebuild mode put more weight into the draft process, while aspiring contenders often prioritize player transactions and improving their coaching staffs. Well, the Knicks fit squarely into the second category. After making it to within two games of an NBA Finals appearance in 2025, New York needed to upgrade both their roster and head coach.
Signed Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele: A
Although these two veteran signings aren’t flashy, Leon Rose made magic happen here. New York desperately needed additional depth off the bench after Tom Thibodeau ran their thin seven-man unit into the ground. While Thibs is infamous for unwisely distrusting the end of his bench as well as young players, those spots simply also needed to be upgraded. Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, Precious Achiuwa, and Delon Wright all had their moments, but aren’t good enough players to feature heavily in a postseason series. Indiana and Oklahoma City proved how important depth is in the playoffs. The days of riding six or seven guys to a championship are over in the new, fast-paced NBA. New York knew that.
Getting your eighth and ninth man for just $9.3M in 2025-26 is a steal for the Knicks. They had very little financial flexibility, as they’re hard-capped at the second apron. NY has just one more veteran minimum slot to fill, and their roster will be set for this season (barring a blockbuster trade).
Rose Made the Most of Limited Cap Space
Jordan Clarkson is a perfect fit as Mike Brown’s backup shooting guard and will run bench units with his explosive scoring ability. He’s basically a massive upgrade over what Payne provided: a flamethrower bench guard who can create shots for himself and his teammates.
Guerschon Yabusele is also an ideal signing for the Knicks. After an excellent international career that culminated in an Olympic run with France, where he went toe-to-toe with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Team USA in 2024, Yabusele earned a contract with the 76ers. He averaged 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds on 61.6% TS on a struggling Sixers squad. The Frenchman should fit in perfectly with New York’s five-out offense. He’s a confident shooter who can make plays off the dribble, just what the Knicks need in a backup big man.
Insane shots of Yabusele dunking on LeBron
Via: Damien Meyer, Thibaud Moritz pic.twitter.com/QPNnkIDGfu
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) August 10, 2024
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Overall, the additions of these two veterans should give Brown the depth he needs for a playoff run in 2026.
Hired Mike Brown as Head Coach: B
The Knicks canvassed the NBA landscape for options to replace Tom Thibodeau. They requested interviews with several existing head coaches, but were denied emphatically. After considering Taylor Jenkins, Dawn Staley, Micah Nori, and others, owner James Dolan finally landed on former Kings headman Mike Brown.
I, like much of the Knicks fan base, have mixed (but overall positive) feelings on this hire. Brown is an established NBA head coach who has enjoyed much success during his three stops around the league. He brings a 454-304 (.599) record to Madison Square Garden, as well as seven playoff appearances, nine series victories, and a 2007 NBA Finals appearance. Brown won three championships as an assistant with the Warriors and another with the Spurs.
In addition to all of Brown’s success as a coach, he’s also been on staff for teams with Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Brown has played a part in the careers of five of the all-time great players. He will bring a tremendous feel for the game to New York and a knowledge of winning that the other candidates simply couldn’t.
Will He Be An Upgrade Over Thibs?
However, hiring the 55-year-old Brown after a tough ending in Sacramento does feel a bit like a lateral move. The veteran coach has a similar hard-nosed mentality to Thibodeau and is known for being a defensive mastermind. While his Kings teams struggled defensively, this Knicks roster has much more talent on that end of the floor. If Brown can configure their lineups and manage minutes better than Thibs, he will be an instant upgrade. With that said, his Knicks tenure will be determined by how he maximizes their offense.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges are arguably the most talented top-four in the league. Brown must find a way to better utilize them together offensively, or New York will fall short once again.
Drafted Mohamed Diawara 51st Overall: C+
As has become the norm over the past few seasons, the Knicks were mostly spectators on draft night. After trading away their 2025 first-rounder in the Bridges deal, NY made just one selection. They took an unheralded prospect out of France, the 20-year-old Mohamed Diawara. At 6’9″, 225 pounds, Diawara has a ton of potential. With that said, he shouldn’t figure into New York’s rotation plans for at least a couple of seasons. The odds are that Diawara isn’t a Knick in 2027, so this pick can’t be judged. Such is life in the late second round.
Overall, Leon Rose, James Dolan, and the Knicks did a solid job so far this summer. They found their coach, boosted their depth, and have improved their chances for next year. Knicks fans should be overjoyed at the state of the team.
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