The National Basketball Association is a few days away, and it is once again time to preview every NBA franchise. I will be covering the teams in the Eastern Conference and my colleague, Joel Beatton, will feature teams in the Western Conference. Today we are featuring the New York Knicks.
Key Acquisition
The most notable new Knick is power forward Karl Anthony Towns of Edison, New Jersey. On October 2, Towns was involved in a blockbuster trade involving the Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Charlotte Hornets. The other two principal players in the deal were power forward Julius Randle of Dallas, Texas, and shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo of Newark, Delaware, who went from the Knicks to the Timberwolves.
This past season, Towns averaged 21.8 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, and three assists per game. He had a field goal percentage of .504, three point percentage of .416, and a free throw percentage of .873. Towns has also been the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year and four-time NBA All-Star while with Minnesota.
Fantasy Stars
Towns is ranked sixth among centers and All-Star Jalen Brunson of New Brunswick, New Jersey, is ranked ninth among point guards. Last season, Brunson averaged 28.7 points per game, 6.7 assists per game, and 3.6 rebounds per game. Brunson also had a field goal percentage of .479, three point percentage of .401, and and free throw percentage of .847.
Projected Finish
The Knicks won 50 games last season, and the question heading into the year is how much better can they be (if at all) with Towns in the lineup rather than Randle. I am projecting somewhere in the neighbourhood of 55 wins, and a second place finish in the Atlantic Division.
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