Jeff Van Gundy: 'A lot has to go right' for Knicks to make postseason

Last season, the New York Knicks failed to meet expectations, finishing with an unremarkable 37-45 record.

After missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, the Knicks made another huge offseason splash, signing free agent guard Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million deal. 

With expectations rising again for the Knicks, former head coach and current NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy isn't sold. 

Van Gundy told the New York Post the Knicks, while improved, weren't at "the same level" as the rest of the competition in the Eastern Conference. 

"They're not even close to a lock for the play-in," Van Gundy said. "A lot has to go right."

Van Gundy added that despite the addition of Brunson, the Knicks are still looking for a "No. 1" to lead them. 

Earlier this offseason, the Knicks were seen as the runaway favorite to land All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade with the Utah Jazz. Ultimately, the Knicks balked at the asking price for Mitchell before the Jazz traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  

"If you're going to make a significant jump in the Eastern Conference — when you have Tatum, Brown, Durant, Antetokounmpo, Butler, and Harden and Embiid in Philly, you need a top-20 player in the league," Van Gundy said. "That's what you build around. They're still searching for that."