The New York Knicks made a huge splash in NBA free agency by landing Mikal Bridges, but weeks before opening night, the team is facing a setback in their big man rotation after Mitchell Robinson is reported to miss the first month of the 2024-25 season.
Having reached the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Knicks are looking forward to a better finish this upcoming season. Signing scorer Mikal Bridges to join former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, this team improved its wing depth but left short on its bigs after the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein.
With Julius Randle expected to make a comeback, the Knicks are looking to pair the former NBA All-Star with Mitchell Robinson. However, reports came out that Robinson will still need to rehab his ankle from surgery and is expected to return as soon as December.
Days before training camp, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins feels that the Knicks can go small ball sliding Randle at the center and putting OG Anunoby at the four.
“Tom Thibodeau should have a sigh of relief right now,” Perkins said. “I love the idea of Julius Randle playing the five alongside OG Anunoby being like a somewhat stretch four. And then you have Jalen Brunson and probably Mikal Bridges. Who knows who he’s gonna put in that fifth spot.”
Kendrick Perkins believes the Knicks could have the best record in the NBA with Julius Randle playing at the 5
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 24, 2024
Julius Randle must embrace the center position for the New York Knicks
Kendrick Perkins has been part of playoff-caliber teams and, most notably, the 2008 NBA champions with the Boston Celtics. For his experience on building title contenders, he suggested that Julius Randle should embrace being the center this season so the New York Knicks can do a small ball attack.
“If [Randle] embraces his role … being a guy that’s gonna mix it up, picking and popping, picking and rolling, a versatile defender that can switch one through five on the defensive end, I love this for Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks,” Perkins said.
In addition to Randle, the Knicks will also rely on undersized big players like Precious Achiuwa, Jericho Sims, and Marcus Morris Sr., and they will put Josh Hart again at the four.
The New York Knicks will play five pre-season games against the Washington Wizards, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Charlotte Hornets. They will play their first game of the season against the defending champions, Boston Celtics, on October 22 at the TD Garden.
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