Steve Popper: Ranking the biggest threats to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference
LeBron James and Joel Embiid were opponents during an NBA basketball game on Dec. 9, 2022, in Philadelphia. Now, they'll be teammates with the 76ers. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum
If he had had his way, and that would have meant that the Knicks’ 53-year wait for an NBA title had gone on a little bit longer until he could have swooped in to play the hero, LeBron James would have made his long thread of social media posts about how excited he was to join the Knicks.
But they won without him, and despite all of the movement around the Eastern Conference, with opponents plotting how to dethrone the champions, until someone does — which has happened to the last seven champs’ attempts to repeat — the Knicks are the team to beat.
All eyes are on the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom James landed with what he said was his “last decision.” The two-year contract would take him to 43 years old, and even LeBron eventually has to wear down. But he explained his goal in his social media posting.
“This is my last decision,” he wrote. “I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
While I admire Tom Petty, I’m not sure he was right when he said, “The waiting is the hardest part.”
James and the 76ers have two months to figure out chemistry, but the hardest part will come on the court when they have to try to make all of this work, to stay healthy and satisfy ball-hungry stars who have been set on being the first option.
They’re not alone. Stars have shifted spots, injuries have healed and everyone has a plan to beat the Knicks. I’d still put them as the favorites, even if Vegas already has jumped on the 76ers’ bandwagon, but here are the contenders who hope to knock them out:
1. Philadelphia: On paper, well, wow! After being swept by the Knicks and humiliated in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the 76ers somehow remade the roster while still keeping key pieces in place. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe give them a lightning-quick backcourt, Jaylen Brown is an upgrade from Paul George and LeBron — who will turn 42 in late December — still is a complete player.
But he’s not the player he was at 32 or maybe even 40. So much of the 76ers’ hopes will hinge on how much he has left and how he will adapt to a new role. And with all of the changes, maybe even more than what James can do, it’s the health of Joel Embiid that will determine how far Philadelphia can go. Can the 76ers make it all work if Embiid is sidelined in the postseason or if he is limited in the regular season?
2. Atlanta: We all remember that the Hawks were up 2-1 on the Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs before it all turned around. But Atlanta added Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins from Oklahoma City and maybe has another move to go with Jonathan Kuminga a restricted free agent.
Could he be moved in a sign-and-trade to get them a center with the size to challenge Karl-Anthony Towns or Embiid?
3. Boston: After failing to land Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics sent Brown to Philly for a package led by George and added the oft-injured Mike Conley Jr. and Mitchell Robinson. Still, Joe Mazzulla treasures every regular-season game, and a healthy Jayson Tatum should mean 50 wins again.
4. Cleveland: The Cavaliers, left at the altar by LeBron, added — no one.
James Harden opted out of his contract and awaits a new deal, which is as alarming as the offseason misses. Dean Wade left for Philadelphia. The Cavs waited on LeBron and now enter the season as underdogs. Or perhaps they’ll move to swing a trade. Could they be a spot for Kuminga in a sign-and-trade?
5. Miami: With Antetokounmpo in place, it’s hard to believe that LeBron wasn’t seduced by the charms of Pat Riley. The Heat did bring Bobby Portis along with Antetokounmpo and added Tim Hardaway Jr. to boost the shooting around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
6. Detroit: The Eastern Conference regular-season champion Pistons saw their offensive holes after the playoffs proved to be a battle. Gone is much of the toughness; in place is a group led by Isaiah Joe and John Collins. Jalen Duren still is a restricted free agent (Detroit reportedly has no interest in a sign-and-trade deal, but he’d sure be a nice fit in Atlanta).
7. Indiana: Tyrese Haliburton should be back after missing all of last season. Ivaca Zubac came in as a midseason gamble last season and now the Pacers can try to work them together, along with the offseason addition of Kelly Oubre.
8. Toronto: The Kawhi Leonard deal remains on hold as the NBA sorts out his Clippers contract and the Aspiration allegations, but it seems the price the Raptors paid for him is more likely to change than the league having him back in Los Angeles. If he arrives and the young core is kept in place, the Raptors should continue to improve.
The rest: The Nets look as if they are playing to win, dealing for Julius Randle and signing Keon Ellis and Mo Wagner, and lottery pick Mikel Brown might be ready to contribute . . . Injuries kept Orlando from being a bigger threat last season, and now the biggest addition is Sean Sweeney, long regarded as a top assistant, as the new head coach . . . Washington has no reason to tank and apparently no intent to do so with Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Khris Middleton guiding a group of “trust the process” draft picks headed by AJ Dybantsa.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
