NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates 
[ad_1]
While the Knicks had a relatively quiet trade deadline, some of their Eastern Conference rivals were actively looking to improve. Now that pencils are down and trade calls have been made, let’s take stock of what each East team did and how it affects their place in the playoff race.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 42-10
The top seed of the conference wasn’t satisfied with their historic start, so they traded Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two first-round pick swaps for Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter. In one swing, they addressed their biggest weakness – the small forward and fifth spot in their lineup that’s been manned by committee this point.
Now Cleveland adds a 6’8”, 225-pound 3-and-D multi-positional wing in the midst of a career year — averaging 19 points per game on 53.1 percent shooting from two and 39.3 percent from three. If they weren’t already a major threat to New York and the conference at large, they’ve now cemented their contender status.
2. Boston Celtics 36-16
The reigning NBA champions made little noise at the deadline, with their one trade losing them an extra second-round pick to dump Jaden Springer’s salary. This was unsurprising given their strong season and limited flexibility, and doesn’t change their status as the most dangerous team in the postseason.
3. New York Knicks 34-17
New York kept it quiet this deadline, with only a Jericho Sims for Delon Wright swap to show for it. They believe the return of Mitchell Robinson to this already strong rotation should be enough to carry them to playoff success.
4. Indiana Pacers 29-21
Despite an up-and-down season, the Pacers found themselves in the fourth seed and passed on any major moves at the deadline. Their lone trade moved James Wiseman and cash for a second-round pick.
The Knicks weren’t whole and have undergone a serious roster makeover since the Pacers eliminated them last season, and the rivals are 1-1 so far this season. They’re safely not yet in the contender tier, but New York cannot underestimate them in a potential playoff matchup.
5. Milwaukee Bucks 27-23
We’ve yet to see the vaunted pairing of…
[ad_2]Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/where-knicks-stack-eastern-conference-144526467.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2025-02-08 14:45:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
