It’s been the shortest offseason Knicks fans have seen in 25 years, thanks to a deep postseason run that ended in the Eastern Conference Finals. With training camp officially underway, excitement is high and expectations are even higher. After all, the Knicks have a stacked roster that on paper should lead to a dominant showing in East under new coach Mike Brown. But before any games are played, big decisions are already forcing the HC’s hand.

Brown inherits a loaded core with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns. However, per The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, the biggest question mark might be regarding KAT’s fit. “Two different coaches now have felt that Towns should play next to a more traditional center. Chris Finch did it in Minnesota when the Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert, and it led to the franchise reaching heights it hadn’t in quite some time. Last year, Tom Thibodeau started Robinson alongside Towns deep into the playoffs after they barely played together at all during the regular season — primarily due to Robinson being sidelined until March. My guess is, yes, we will see those two play together in every game, but I’m not sure if it will be for long stretches.”

Edwards explained that Brown’s basketball identity relies on quick transitions, and tempo might be difficult to keep up considering the Knicks are likely to have two bigs on the floor, alongside a team that was shy with three-point attempts last season.

“Additionally, I believe the best way for New York to maximize its offense is with Towns at center and the team leaning into five-out lineup more regularly than it did last season. So, I do wonder if Brown will lean into Robinson and Towns together for long stretches. We’ll see soon enough,” he said.

Last season, the Knicks were 27th in 3-point attempts per game, a problem for a team with elite shooters like Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby. The personnel didn’t naturally lend itself to high-volume perimeter shooting. Brunson and Bridges thrived in the midrange, Hart got downhill, Anunoby hesitated, and Towns didn’t shoot with the volume his 40% clip warranted.

If Brown indeed wants five-out lineups, Towns is the linchpin to that plan. Whether it’s using him more like Domantas Sabonis in handoffs, trail threes, or initiating sets at the top of the key, Brown has to give Towns the offensive keys. Last year, Towns averaged just 4.17 handoffs to Brunson per 100 possessions. That ranked in the 32nd percentile among duos with at least 75 handoffs. Compare that to Sabonis, who ranked in the 75th percentile or better with four different teammates. Brown can’t afford to make the same mistake. He knows it. And so does Towns.

“We have a chance to win a championship and it only happens if everyone is connected,” Towns said on the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast after a two-hour dinner with Brown. “Kind of just really getting to know him, his people, the way he likes to play basketball, the way he wants to coach.” Towns thrives as a stretch big. Last year, wings guarded him while bigs sagged on Hart, cramping spacing. Brown’s fast-break system relies on transition threes, where Towns trails for 39.5% accuracy. Yet, dual-big lineups with Robinson clocked 16.84 seconds per possession and just 8.9% transition plays, both league-worst marks in limited minutes.

Defensively, Robinson anchors Towns. The duo posted a +4.4 net rating in the playoffs, with a 105.2 defensive rating versus New York’s overall 113.2. Robinson’s +5.5 on-off net and -4.3 defensive on-off outpaced starters. Like Towns next to Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, Robinson enables blitzes and hedges; Towns prefers over drop coverage. Brown started Robinson with Towns late in last playoffs, winning two of four ECF games.  At 27, post-injury, Robinson won’t sprint full-court, but his rim protection boosts Towns’ paint freedom. A five-out look maximizes offense, but defense demands the twin towers. Brown has no alternative for contention. And if Towns is going to be the engine of this team, he needs space to operate, which means he needs to play the five.

Roster crunch forces Knicks’ hand with Pacome Dadiet 

Making that shift on the court also demands moves off of it. With Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon on non-guaranteed deals, the Knicks are out of roster spots. Somebody has to go. The answer is becoming clear. “Most likely Knick to be traded?” Edwards wrote. “Talking to people in league… name I keep hearing most is Pacôme Dadiet… To keep both [Shamet & Brogdon] Knicks would have to make trade. [Dadiet] has more value… than likes of Kolek or Hukporti, according to people I’ve spoken with.” That’s the current plan.

Pacome Dadiet was the 25th pick in 2024, played just 18 games in his rookie season. While his size and upside make him intriguing to rebuilding teams, there’s no clear role for him on a win-now roster. His G-League production was solid with 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, but New York isn’t in development mode. His 6-8 frame and upside eclipse rookies Tyler Kolek or Ariel Hukporti in value, per executives. Dadiet’s $2.8 million salary edges Kolek’s $2.2 million, easing midseason moves.

New York’s second-apron constraints force the cut. Brogdon, 32 and injury-prone, adds playmaking; Shamet provides shooting. Dadiet sits behind Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart at wing, with no clear path. Rebuilding squads like Utah or Brooklyn eye him for a second-rounder. Preseason reps could sway, but title urgency trumps development. 

And to get there, New York is about to make a sacrifice. Paocme Dadiet may not have had much impact last year, but his departure marks a clear shift that the Knicks are pushing all their chips into the middle of the table.