New York Knicks fans have enjoyed quite the offseason. Except for losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, there's been plenty to celebrate. The Knicks re-signed OG Anunoby, traded for Mikal Bridges, signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year extension, and signed Cam Payne.
There are still several things the front office needs to check off its to-do list, some of which will be a little out of their control. Now that the Brunson extension is over, it's time to shift attention toward what's to come.
Knicks' top 4 offseason priorities after Jalen Brunson extension
4. Tom Thibodeau extension
Tom Thibodeau will undoubtedly get paid this summer. He's entering the final season of his contract and is expected to sign a deal worth $10 million annually.
The 66-year-old started his NBA coaching journey in 1989 when he joined Minnesota's staff as an assistant. Before the 2010-11 season, Thibodeau was named Chicago's head coach. He was with the Bulls for five seasons. In 2016-17, he was named the Timberwolves' head coach.
In 2020, Thibodeau became the Knicks' head coach. In his first season in New York, he was named NBA Coach of the Year. He's led the team to the postseason in three of the four seasons he's been at the helm. Thibodeau has a 175-143 record with the Knicks.
He's part of the reason Brunson signed with New York in 2022. There are a lot of misconceptions about Thibodeau in the NBA realm, but this Knicks squad loves him. Ask Donte DiVincenzo.
Like the New York players that found their way to the Knicks, Thibodeau's where he was always meant to be.
3. Mikal Bridges extension
A month ago, Knicks fans didn't care about a Bridges extension. Why? He was still in Brooklyn, and a New York trade wasn't on the radar. The notification from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski shook the entire NBA.
Bridges will be eligible to sign an extension on Oct. 1, a few weeks before the regular season begins. On Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the expectation is the 27-year-old will sign a team-friendly deal (subscription required). He could follow in Brunson's footsteps. The most the Knicks can offer him this offseason is a two-year, $72.5 million deal.
He has two full seasons left on his current contract. Bridges will make $23.3 million in 2024-25 and $24.9 million in 2025-26.
If he waits until next summer to sign, the most New York can offer is a four-year deal worth $156 million (does that sound familiar?). It wouldn't be the end of the world if Bridges doesn't sign an extension before the 2024-25 season starts, but there's plenty of reason to believe he will.
2. Julius Randle extension
On Aug. 3, Julius Randle will be eligible to sign an extension. The Knicks could offer him a deal worth $181.5 million over four years. He took a discount on the four-year, $117 million extension he signed in 2021, and he might not be willing to do that again this summer. Thanks to Brunson's discount, the front office can comfortably offer Randle more money if that's what he wants.
Fans have speculated about Randle's future in New York. Part of that is because he missed the second half of the season after he suffered a dislocated shoulder. The Knicks secured the No. 2 seed in the East, even with Randle playing only 46 games. However, that doesn't mean the team doesn't need him. Imagine how much stronger New York would've been in the playoffs with its All-Star power forward.
Randle shouldn't feel obligated to give the Knicks another discount after Brunson's extension, but that doesn't mean he won't. He's reiterated his desire to deliver New York its third NBA title, and the Knicks are in the best position to do so since Randle signed as a free agent in 2019.
If Leon Rose and Co. sign Randle to an extension this summer, that'd be massive. He's a key part of New York's core.
1. Sign/trade veteran center
You might argue that extending Randle and Bridges should be New York's top two priorities, but those decisions won't rest solely on the front office's shoulders. What they can control is adding another backup center to the roster.
SNY's Ian Begley recently reported that the Knicks are still in touch with Precious Achiuwa, who is an unrestricted free agent since New York didn't give him a qualifying offer. Begley added that he "thinks" the front office has had "casual trade talks with some high-salaried veteran centers on the trade market."
With Hartenstein gone, Mitchell Robinson is the starting center again. There's no worry about how Robinson will perform in the role he's very familiar with, but instead, about his injury history. The reason Hartenstein took over the starting job in 2023-24 was because Robinson underwent ankle surgery.
When the big man is healthy, he's one of the best defensive centers in the league. If he were to get hurt next season, New York would have to turn to Jericho Sims unless it adds another center.
The Knicks dealt with too many injuries to count last season. Rather than leave a hole at center, New York needs to add another five to the roster before the 2024-25 season begins.