Should Knicks stick or twist?

New York Knicks key decision-maker Leon Rose didn’t believe in Tom Thibodeau. By extension, does that mean he doesn’t believe in his roster? That is the question that will hang over these Knicks, likely until the 2026 trade deadline.

Hard questions are anticipated at the end of any season where expectations have not been met (you could argue that the Knicks at least met, if not exceeded expectations this season, but that’s for another article) and the Knicks asked and answered their first question with the firing of Thibodeau.

Does that move predicate any seismic roster moves this offseason? Will Karl-Anthony Towns be moved? Mikal Bridges? Josh Hart?

The players believe in themselves. In post-match news conferences after their season-ending loss to the Indiana Pacers, star guard Jalen Brunson stated how he felt: "Overconfident. Seriously. There’s not an ounce of any type of doubt that I’m not confident with this group." 

Towns was less effusive, though the message remained the same: "The plan now is to just put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time."

The arguments to hold steady are plentiful. A 51-win regular season marked a 12-year high for the club; the team made its first conference finals appearance in a quarter of a century; Towns will have a full offseason as a Knick to prepare for the next campaign. 

Presumably, any non-Michael Malone new coach will not grind the starters into dust, either. In turn, that should allow deeper options like Landry Shamet and Delon Wright (or their replacements) a better match sharpness when the playoffs roll around. Youngsters like Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti and Pacome Dadiet may even get to play every now and then.

So, why undertake major surgery on the playing list? Star hunting. 

It’s becoming increasingly obvious that Giannis Antetokounmpo could be available, though Milwaukee may not be all that keen on Towns headlining the return. Would Boston look to reset the repeater tax clock and move Jaylen Brown? Again, Boston couldn’t take on Towns, and after trading all of their picks for Bridges, the Knicks don’t have the draft capital to make that deal viable for the Celtics.

Luckily, they shouldn’t need to move for another star. While Brunson and Towns are not without their obvious flaws, both are All-NBA-level players, and both are smack in the middle of their prime years. Brunson was generally excellent throughout these playoffs, and Towns found another gear against the Pacers in the conference finals, bullying defenders on drives to the hoop, as teams game-planned to take away his deep threat.  

Their supporting cast is excellent. Bridges and OG Anunoby are perfect two-way stars in their roles. Mitchell Robinson, though a perennial injury concern, is a solid defensive foil for Towns and a demonic offensive rebounder. With some tweaks around the edges, the championship-level roster is there.

For a side as successful as this, changing the head coach is a risk. For every Mike Budenholzer to Milwaukee, Steve Kerr to Golden State or Larry Brown to the Pistons, there is a Fred Hoiberg to Chicago, Nick Nurse to Philadelphia or anybody to the Phoenix Suns.

That said, Rose and his team have put nary a foot wrong in their time at Madison Square Garden. They’ve rebuilt both a roster and a culture from a position of toxicity to contention. It would be foolish not to acknowledge Thibodeau’s contribution to that rebuild. Rose has earned the collective trust in hiring his replacement. With the right coaching hire, the Knicks should again be sitting at or near the head of the table next season.