The Philadelphia 76ers are already facing steep competition in the Eastern Conference. While most people will still brag about the West touting a more brutal competitive landscape, the East is likewise littered with big-time rivals who have gotten the better of them in recent years. Case in point? Look no further than the New York Knicks.
New York is currently sitting at second place in the East, up by 3.5 games over Philly. To make their prospects look even brighter, they are one of the rumored possible landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has taken the trade market by storm. However, it seems like the Knicks are backing out of the bidding war for the superstar — a surprising development that should give the 76ers a sigh of relief.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently said that the Knicks are currently not taking on an aggressive stance when it comes to the two-time MVP, with the belief being that their brain trust is content with the way things are going with their roster, which has managed to shake off a brutal slump en route to a glowing stretch as of late.
If you’re the 76ers, you take that as a positive swing.
76ers end up as winners if the Knicks do not trade for Giannis
No, the Knicks not going after Giannis does not mean that there would be an abdication in favor of the 76ers. What this does for Philly is take away a bleak prospect where Giannis and Jalen Brunson team up in the Big Apple.
A pairing between Antetokounmpo and Brunson, if anything, would be overwhelming for the race out East. As good as their current nucleus is, the Knicks are still prone to inconsistent bouts on the hardwood, especially on defense. Karl-Anthony Towns, for one, is starting to look like a very dispensable piece for New York.
The Knicks, as constructed, have already given the 76ers a lot of trouble in recent years. They still have nearly the same core players from the time they ousted Philly in the playoffs a couple of years ago. They have beaten the 76ers in eight of their last 11 outings, making them a formidable hurdle to clear at present.
Getting the Greek Freak would have only worsened Philadelphia’s fighting chances against New York. As such, the 76ers better hope that what Windhorst revealed ends up coming to fruition. Otherwise, they could stand to see their title window possibly get shut down for good.