Former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony believes only one team stands between his old team and their goal of reaching the NBA Finals: the Boston Celtics.
In an appearance on the “All The Smoke” podcast, Anthony shared his thoughts on the Knicks, who traded for Mikal Bridges and re-signed OG Anunoby after finishing last season with the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed. He expressed confidence that the Knicks wouldn’t be concerned about the Philadelphia 76ers, who bolstered their lineup by signing All-Star forward Paul George to form a Big 3 with MVP center Joel Embiid and rising star guard Tyrese Maxey.
The Knicks, even without All-Star forward Julius Randle, defeated the 76ers, 4-2, in the first round of the playoffs.
“Philly got better, the Knicks got better. Boston, they’re going to be the same because we got to beat them,” said Anthony, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, who spent seven seasons on Broadway. “We ain’t worried about nobody else in the East. We’re worrying about Boston. That’s it.”
The 76ers also cleared Tobias Harris’ five-year, $180 million contract off the books, creating the cap space to offer George a max salary and sign Caleb Martin away from the Miami Heat. They also re-signed Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry, added Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond, and locked in Maxey with a rookie max extension.
Despite the impressive offseason moves by the 76ers, Anthony believes it won’t be enough to stop the Knicks from reaching the conference finals.
However, the 76ers aren’t the only team poised to challenge the Knicks for a shot at the reigning champion Celtics.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are gearing up for their second attempt at bringing a title to Milwaukee. The Bucks are flying under the radar after a disappointing regular season ended with a first-round playoff exit, but Antetokounmpo — a two-time MVP — missed the entire series with a calf injury, and Lillard was also sidelined due to injury. With a healthier roster, the duo should only improve in their second year together, and the core of this team — minus Jrue Holiday — is largely the same group that won the title in 2021.
- While the Cleveland Cavaliers might not currently shake the East’s elite, adding the right piece at the three to complement Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen could change that narrative. The Cavaliers are just a piece away, and they have the assets to make a deal if the right player becomes available. With development guru Kenny Atkinson now coaching in Cleveland, the promising talent Mobley is expected to take a step forward with an expanded offensive role.
- The Indiana Pacers face a crucial question: Were they a fluke, or are they legitimate title contenders? The Pacers played the Bucks without Antetokounmpo and with a limited Lillard in the first round, then faced the Knicks without Randle, Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanovic or Mitchell Robinson in the second round. Can Indiana advance past the second round against healthier competition? Injuries are part of the game, and they play into the Pacers’ strengths: pace of play and depth at every position, which they reinforced around the All-Star duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam this offseason.
- It’s also time to put some respect on the Orlando Magic. Their smothering defense propelled them to a fifth-place finish in the East last season, and they improved their roster by addressing one of their biggest needs: signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope away from the Denver Nuggets on a three-year deal. Like the Cavaliers, the Magic are just a piece away — specifically, a lead guard to pair with Paolo Banchero. But with head coach Jamahl Mosley, who finished second in Coach of the Year voting, they’re up to the challenge of pushing past their limits.
- Lastly, you can never count out the Miami Heat. When they seem to be at their worst, they somehow play their best. And if anyone can turn water into wine, it’s Erik Spoelstra, the heir to the USA Basketball coaching throne. The Heat lost Caleb Martin to the 76ers despite offering him a more lucrative contract. They were unable to attract another marquee talent but will retool around Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier.
And then, there are the Knicks. As it stands, the Knicks:
- lost Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder
- traded five first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and Bojan Bogdanovic for Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop
- re-signed Anunoby for five years, $212.5 million
- signed Jalen Brunson to a team-friendly four-year, $156.5 million extension, then named him team captain
- and re-signed Precious Achiuwa to one-year, $6 million deal while getting him to waive his no-trade clause
The Knicks also drafted Pacome Dadiet in the first round and Tyler Kolek in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Fans won’t have to wait too long to see Anthony’s take play out.
The Knicks start their regular season on Oct. 22 in Boston against the reigning champs, and the Knicks will play the Pacers and Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden in the following two games.
The games will serve as an early barometer for a Knicks team in pursuit of a title, measuring itself against its potential roadblocks.
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