It is no secret that the New York Knicks won the trade involving Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo being sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. They’ve set themselves up for a competitive run to the Finals.

However, despite having the tremendous upsides of Towns, there are some noticeable concerns that need to be addressed before writing their names into the championship history books.

This article will walk through all the negatives and positives surrounding the 28-year-old, then, come the end, I will draw a conclusion on whether or not they are a Finals-bound team.

Positive: A position of need has been fulfilled

New York lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Mitchell Robinson will be out until December with his looming ankle injury; this left a large hole in their center position.

Their solution? Trading for Karl-Anthony Towns, which was a brilliant move. Minnesota, after acquiring Rudy Gobert, tried playing Towns at the power forward position. To say the least, it was an awful move. Why? Because Towns is a natural, and more comfortable, center.

New York is putting him back into his natural element, which is a phenomenal win-win for each sides.

Before Towns, their center room consisted of Mitchell Robinson, Jericho Sims, and Ariel Hukporti. For those that don’t know, Hukporti was selected in this year’s draft with the 58th pick.

Robinson is hurt, so that would mean they would either have Sims start or pull Precious Achiuwa from the four to play the five. I don’t have to explain in great depth why that would have been a chaotic nightmare for management and head coach Tom Thibodeau.

In the end, the positional upgrade and stress taken off by acquiring Towns is something worth more than gold. A heavy weight has been lifted off the shoulders of many.

Positive: Towns is way better player than Julius Randle for New York

This statement I made has multiple layers that needed to be unpacked. Firstly, Towns is the better shooter. There’s a reason why many said there was a Randle problem in New York, it wasn’t because he was this significant player dominating the space.

Towns is a far more consistent shooter than Randle has been in his career; one is a 52% shooter, while the other is a 47% shooter. From deep saw Towns 6% better than Randle. Towns is literally a stretch big that wasn’t limited to one role.

Secondly, Randle was never successful or effective in the pick-and-roll game. Something that is almost an underrated skill of Towns is his ability to work the pick-and-roll so well. For majority of his time in Minnesota, the Timberwolves never had a successful guard to compliment Towns in that capacity.

Now, that is not a knock against Anthony Edwards. Please do not misconstrue what I am saying; of course, Edwards has the ability to do it. However, poor spacing, involving Rudy Gobert, killed any possibilities of that happening.

New York has incredible spacing and an incredible guard that is Jalen Brunson to get the job done. This will be scary hours in New York for opposing defenses to try to scheme against.

Thirdly, and this a massive one, especially for the front office, contracts. Heading into this season was Randle’s final guaranteed year, there were so many questions focused on if he would re-sign if it meant taking less money. The kind of sacrifices Brunson and Mikal Bridges are making.

Speculation arose on whether or not Leon Rose and the Knicks would want to go all-in on a number two player that they already had issues with and not fully invested.

With Towns, he’s entering his huge four-year deal worth $220 million. Forget about the money right now, what is really important are the years in the agreement. New York doesn’t have to worry about a big piece leaving anytime soon.

Negative: Roster depth & financial flexibility has been compromised

While this isn’t directly the fault of Towns, New York has taken away some of their depth to acquire him. This raises a red flag for when injuries happen and overall roster rotation.

They essentially traded two pieces for one piece; getting rid of DiVincenzo certainly didn’t help, however, it’s understandable on why they pulled the trigger when given the context of the deal not happening without him apart of it.

Even with the context, one of their biggest issues last season was depth. That was one of the key factors in them not making a deep playoff run, it was evident since the very beginning.

Here is their entire depth chart:

• Miles McBride
• Cam Payne
• Tyler Kolek (second-round rookie)
• Landry Shamet
• Pacome Dadiet (first-round rookie)
• Precious Achiuwa
• Kevin McCullar Jr. (second-round rookie)
• Jericho Sims
• Ariel Hukporti (second-round rookie)

Their front-court is very scarce, with a lot of it being filled by rookies. The back-court is also very interesting to look at because the second and third units may not be able to carry as much as their talent will allow them to.

This puts more pressure on the starters and McBride, who will now see an increased role. Was he expecting it? We will see as the season unfolds.

All of this is to say that the New York Knicks and their fan base must proceed with cautious optimism, as there is a lot of hopeful wishing going on right now with their backup units.

Now, what about their financial flexibility?

By New York getting Towns, with his massive $220 million contract over the next four years, they have put themselves in an unforgiving hole of (almost) zero financial flexibility or independence.

This season, he is making $49 million. This will be the cheapest season, as each season will see a four million increase in his pay. His final season will cost New York $61 million. For a fuller understanding of this, Towns will be 32 years old. Something to consider.

Fun fact, half of their cap space is being spent on Towns and OG Anunoby. The more terrifying part is realizing their history with injuries.

Then pile on the soon-to-be Mikal Bridges contract extension, which will push them into the second apron, New York is forcing themselves into keeping this roster for the long haul. Or at least the starting lineup and other key contributors.

They could face the same level of inflexibility as Mat Ishbia’s Phoenix Suns; there are concerns there.

Negative: Adding Towns doesn’t add another shot creator

Karl-Anthony Towns is a wonderful offensive player, there is no doubt in my mind or the mind of the New York Knicks. However, it’s not like they traded for a player who can generate their own shot out of thin air.

One of the only positives Randle had in his arsenal was his ability to create his own shots and not rely on others, or specifically the point guard, to create them for him. Towns not so much, which could prove to be challenging.

Now, could Towns’ spacing abilities counteract this issue? Yes and no, while it will for sure help, Brunson is still going to have to put in more work regardless of the spacing.

A lot of the Knicks’ players are reliant, and almost fully dependent, on the playmaking and shot creation abilities of Brunson. That isn’t always sustainable, but there are feasible ways out of those tough scenarios.

The reason why this is a negative, besides the obvious, is seeing how this will affect Brunson. Before with Randle, he had those breaks; now, he won’t be having them as much with Towns.

Is this a good trade off for better pick and rolls with better spacing? It can be, but it all depends on coaching and personnel.

What fans have to worry about is how it will affect them in the postseason, not the here and now – speaking of the regular season.

Conclusion:

Is this team Finals-bound? They can be, but so many things have to go their way and they have some tough teams to face once in the postseason. For example: the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and even the Indiana Pacers.

Rosters have changed, teams have adapted, and that includes their benches. The long-term, and short-term, success of this team depends on a lot of factors. A lot of the factors that were covered in this article; plus, factors, like defense and chemistry, that will need to be addressed as the season progresses.

New York is taking a serious gamble, which heavily impacts their future one way or another, and all eyes will be on the Knicks.

Do cracks begin to show? Yes, but, in this deal, they got the best player.

How you must look at it, is this: they were never sustainable with Randle, when healthy and when not, they’ve gained a player that compliments New York better.

Towns has significant defensive issues, he is a worse liability than what many think, but the right scheme and defense will minimize the issues.

This trade shows them going all-in, while remaining conservative, as this proves to the world they are serious about a championship by raising the risks even higher with the reward paying off greatly.

If injuries are kept at a low, and the team gels to the Knicks’ liking, then I could see this team compete in the Eastern Conference Championship. However, the margin for error is very slim now, especially given the reasons above.

In the end, this was the right move by the Knicks. It filled holes in their roster, upgraded a player, and gives them a better chance for the postseason. A lot of the issues were there when Randle was there; funny enough, some of the issues that he caused have been fixed.

This past Saturday, fans of the NBA and the Phoenix Suns saw the shocking news that Tyus Jones would be signing with Mat Ishiba’s organization. This was a move that many felt was very improbable due to money, but Phoenix somehow convinced him to take a one-year, $3.3 million deal.

Jones has been a very underrated, underappreciated point guard in the past couple of seasons. There is no bias to that statement, it is simply a fact. He’s only 28 years old, is a 12/7 player, and has propelled his career from being a backup to a full-fledged starter.

While what I have listed is all well in good, not taking away anything, but how does he help the Phoenix Suns? How does Jones bring this team together and much better than what they were last season? Is he their PG savior?

All those questions and more will be answered below.

The skills Tyus Jones possesses:

Ball Protection

He became a full-time starter with the Washington Wizards last season, and it was one of the most impressive point guard seasons I’ve seen in a while. Particularly in this area, why? Jones recorded 485 assists against 66 turnovers; that’s a 7.35 ratio, which is best mark in NBA history.

To provide more context of how stunning that is, only talking last season, Jones was first and Chris Paul was fourth. Paul’s assist to turnover ratio was 5.1, the Point God himself wasn’t close to Jones. It’s extraordinary to dish out seven passes before committing a singular turnover.

Was it a fluke? Absolutely not, here are some more numbers: in 2018-19, he set an NBA record with a 6.96 AST/TO ratio. Later, in 2021-22, Jones topped it with a 7.04 AST/TO ratio. As his minutes and exposure to the court grew, so did his numbers and consistency to the game.

Also, he’s led the league in AST/TO ratio for five straight season. He’s no joke, an absolute stud playmaking-wise.

Pushing The Pace

The Suns have found a happy median between the erratic play of Cam Payne and the slow play of Chris Paul. Jones won’t take 10 seconds to get up court and get a play ready, and he won’t rush it by sprinting with the ball up the court in 1.2 seconds to make a bad decision.

Pushing the pace will keep Phoenix flowing in a positive direction on fast-breaks and bringing the ball up the court on usual inbounds. What he did in Memphis with the Grizzlies was absolutely fantastic, and was a sizable chunk of his game.

In the final season with Memphis, they were fifth in pace (possessions per 48 minutes), which featured him being second in fast-break points. About 20% of his offense accounted from scoring on fast-breaks and transitions.

Jones has played in different styles of tempos and can adjust very well to head coach Mike Budenholzer’s tempo. His excellence on pushing pace has been seen through his overall basketball IQ and how he handles the ball as a primary facilitator and floor general.

Shot Creation & Ball Handling

As a full-time starter, fans have seen his shooting performances on the rise. In 2022-23, Jones averaged 10.3 points on 43.8% from the field. In 2023-24, Jones averaged 12.0 points on 48.9% from the field.

His ball handling skills has allowed him to create shots, create space, and get pretty good looks. That is why he’s able to have such a high percentage from the field; it should also be noted that the more he dribbles the more efficient he is scoring-wise.

After taking two dribbles then the shot, Jones converts it at a 51.6% success rate. Let’s say it’s three or more dribbles, he’s still knocking them down at a 49.1% success rate. The model of today’s NBA is to catch-and-shoot or take one dribble only, but Tyus Jones is completely different.

This is what has made him so effective and dangerous around the perimeter and beyond the arc. It is visually and statistically proven. These two features of his game has sent him from being a backup trying to prove himself to a full-blown starter that can lead a team in a positive, unselfish way.

How does Tyus Jones help the Phoenix Suns?

If anyone has lived under a rock for the past season when it comes to Phoenix basketball, let me painfully fill you in on the horrors this team had to go through. Mind you, I’m a diehard Suns fan, so this kills me.

Anyways, the Suns were the most hideous team with no continuity or consistency as an offensive group due to having no point guard that led to high turnovers and defensive breakdowns. We collapsed in the third quarter, offensively and defensively, but if we survived that quarter, it would definitely die in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers were a massive problem, as stated above, with the Suns averaging 14.1 turnovers per game. No franchise can be a sustainable, winning, championship-contending team if they are committing that many turnovers.

Plus, having no true point guard couldn’t facilitate or help function the rest of the pieces on the court. It looked to appear that this team had no chemistry, intensity, or understanding of the game of basketball.

Devin Booker was not the answer; Bradley Beal was not the answer; nor was Kevin Durant, Isaiah Thomas (wasn’t even given a shot), Grayson Allen, nobody was the answer.

So, how does Tyus Jones become Phoenix’s savior?

He’s a true point guard who doesn’t need to always score and will, in fact, look to get the primary scorers open and able to get “easier” shots. There will be less frustration from players, more chemistry, pressure will be taken off of the “Big 3” to move around the ball, less iso-ball, and other things along those lines.

Fans, reading this article and knowing Jones already, know who Jones is and will always continue to be. His playing style is incredible and it will fit within Phoenix’s scheme of the coaches and the players.

With him running the offense, there won’t be 14 turnovers per game anymore. There won’t be constant traps and pressures put on Phoenix’s players when bringing up the ball. What makes this even more beautiful as a fan of the Phoenix Suns is knowing that everyone will be involved, there will be no more (to limited) iso-ball, and stars can return to their natural roles.

Conclusion

This isn’t rocket science, right? Phoenix always needed a point guard, a true play-making guard. James Jones has finally found him and has finally be able to sign him. Everything I’ve listed in this article from his main skills to the problems of the Phoenix Suns all go together because the problems can be solved with his talents.

Phoenix struggled in the third quarter because they didn’t have a point guard, same goes for their fourth quarter struggles. When a team can’t pass the ball, and has to play hero-ball to generate scoring opportunities, they are bound to collapse and stall out like an old car.

The health of this offense, and this team in general, needed a point guard. We found that out with Chris Paul, now we’ve found a younger and almost better version of him for the modern-day Suns.

There was no secret code to figuring out how to “fix” the Suns; they just needed a point guard, a reliable and beyond ready-to-play point guard.

I’ve always wanted him here in Phoenix, and, now, management has secured him.

2024 Mock NBA Draft (Lottery Picks)

This is CourtSideHeat’s official mock draft featuring this year’s lottery teams; big names like Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Stephon Castle, Devin Carter, and so many others will be drafted within the first fourteen spots.

In today’s article, I’ll predict where each player will go and why they are the right fit for their respective team. The draft begins at 8 PM Eastern.

First overall pick: Atlanta Hawks

When Atlanta won the first pick, many thought Alex Sarr would be selected by the franchise. The going belief was pairing him with either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray, depending on how that situation unfolds.

However, reports are now speculating that Risacher will be going first to Atlanta. Beyond the rumors and reports, CourtSideHeat believes Zaccharie Risacher will be the first selection in this year’s draft.

Even though he needs to improve his jump shot, or lack thereof, he is still a solid defenseman who can shoot the three-ball. He’s shown glimpses of being able to play professional ball at the next level, as his quick decision-making and ability to help their frontcourt are major bonuses within the organization.

The upside is very real, and he should go number one.

Second overall pick: Washington Wizards

Washington will select Alex Sarr, as Sarr is easily the team’s number-one pick. Either Sarr or Risacher could be the first player selected, but if Sarr falls to second, don’t be shocked if the Wizards select the skilled big man.

While he doesn’t have a consistent long-range shot, his inside game on both ends of the floor is deeply intriguing. It’s so intriguing that Washington will pass up on getting a high-quality point guard. His potential as a stretch big should not be ruled out; even beyond that, his defensive skills as a shot blocker are an unfair advantage for whoever drafts him.

If you want a player who can play defense and has a legit perimeter skill set, look no further than the 19-year-old Frenchman.

Third overall pick: Houston Rockets

Let’s assume Houston decides not to trade the pick, which is up in the air due to recent reports, they should draft a high-value combo guard that can sit behind Fred VanVleet and learn a lot from the former championship-winning veteran.

That is why Houston’s front office should select Reed Sheppard. The upside is ridiculous, as CourtSideHeat has him as the best point guard and combo guard in this year’s draft class. Besides him being able to play either backcourt position, he is a very skilled guard who has the potential be an elite offensive player in this league.

Sheppard is an outstanding dribbler, passer, space creator, and shot creator. What he can do for himself and for his teammates is beyond comprehension. Houston’s bench, and soon their starting lineup, would love him.

This is all predicated on the ideology of them keeping their pick.

Fourth overall pick: San Antonio Spurs

Will the Spurs be controversial? Who knows, as many do want them to take Matas Buzelis. However, CourtSideHeat is projecting San Antonio to land Stephon Castle. Don’t be taken aback when this happens; why? Because he is a cornerstone point guard who can compliment Victor Wembanyama.

He has very strong playmaking skills and the ability to play incredibly versatile defense, which should not go unnoticed. While the stats aren’t popping out, he’s seen as an underrated player who led UConn to a championship.

While shot making is questionable, how he’ll be able to get his teammates involved and be an offensive facilitator for this team will be more impactful than anything. Gregg Popovich will be happy to have him paired with Wemby.

Fifth overall pick: Detroit Pistons

This selection is tough, as people can make the case for either Buzelis or Donovan Clingan. Personally, I believe Donovan Clingan will be selected by the Detroit Pistons. To pass up on the additional rim protection and having the best center from this draft class would be criminally insane.

A frontcourt featuring him and Jalen Duren would be unstoppable, plus it would speed up their rebuilding phase. A big 3 centered around him, Duren, and Cade Cunningham (when healthy) would be a league-wide threat.

Despite his shot-making and mobility is questionable, he’s an interior beast on both ends of the court. In many people’s eyes, Clingan has been seen as a first-overall pick, but if he falls, he will go straight to Detroit.

Sixth overall pick: Charlotte Hornets

Matas Buzelis will be selected with the sixth pick in this year’s NBA draft, as the Hornets can do so many great things with him. Pairing him alongside Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball would be great for their young, talented unit.

He’s regarded as a point-forward player who communicates with teammates to keep the offense humming, has a decent shot (three-ball a little iffy), has a great touch around the rim, and can play fantastic defense. His game is not really limited, as the areas he lacks in, he makes up with in the ones he excels and punishes teams with.

Buzelis is highly talented and deserves to be a top-ten prospect.

Seventh overall pick: Portland Trail Blazers

Cody Williams is projected to be selected by Portland unless Donovan Clingan is still somehow available. However, assuming he’s gone, Williams should be the newest addition to a rebuilding Blazers.

How reliable he is as a shooter is concerning; inconsistency and reluctance are the two best words to describe his shooting game. It is definitely something that needs to be addressed, but he is a dynamic finisher and a solid playmaker.

Jalen Williams’ brother has been regarded as a top-5 pick and as a surefire lottery pick. He can play tremendous defense, foul-bait, and penetrate the defense. CourtSideHeat has him as a top-10 pick with real potential to grow and to flourish under Chauncey Billups.

Eighth overall pick: San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio is one lucky team in recent draft memory, as they have two lottery picks. While this class isn’t regarded as the best, it is still monumental to have two lottery picks that allow a brighter future for an obviously rebuilding team.

That’s why they’ll be drafting Ron Holland, who is an eye-drawing wing player. Want to talk about an athletic, two-way player that is gritty-gutty? Then let’s talk about the player coming out of the G League Ignite.

The very young player is perfect for improvement and will serve to be a fantastic starting player; he can get paired with both Wemby and newly drafted Castle. Holland will create waves in the NBA.

Ninth overall pick: Memphis Grizzlies

Devin Carter should be selected by a young, rebuilding Memphis franchise – if going off of the premise they are going to take the best guard at that pick. Could it be Dalton Knecht? Yes, but older is not always better.

Plus, with Carter, he is a high volume scorer and rebounder. The level he plays with on both ends of the court is something the Grizzlies love as a characteristic in their players. Just like in college, expect to see him play defense and generate steals and blocks.

Tenth overall pick: Utah Jazz

Dalton Knecht will provide great shooting for Utah, as they are a team that needs a wing player and another shooter like Knecht. Despite him being 23-years-old, he’s an excellent movement and pull-up shooter.

Knecht can easily take his college experiences and translate them to the National Basketball Association; he plays a little gritty-gutty, will play solid defense, and drive to the hole or hit a quick three. Something the Jazz desperately need, as they aren’t rebuilding but also aren’t playoff contending.

Not only can he do it all as a shooter, but he can catch fire, and once he catches fire, it is over for everyone. Expect Knecht be gone before pick eleven.

Eleventh overall pick: Chicago Bulls

Chicago needs to replace Alex Caruso, despite adding Josh Giddey, and the perfect player would Rob Dillingham. He is a very skilled, agile point guard who plays it exceptionally well on both ends of the court.

The 19-year-old is the best option for the Bulls, as not only is his skillset an extreme positive, it provides more stability to their backcourt. Something they’ve been wanting since dealing with the Lonzo Ball fiasco.

Him and Coby White would be a top duo in this league, which could make or break their odds of going to the Play-In Tournament or first round. Also, Zach LaVine is most likely gone. So, management will be looking for a potential solution. Dillingham could be that solution.

Twelfth overall pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

Like what the Bulls did, the Thunder need to replace the hole Josh Giddey left. Despite the new plans for Giddey was to come off the bench, his production will be greatly missed. With that being said, Nikola Topic should be selected by Oklahoma City.

Now, I understand the hesitancy with selecting him this high into the draft. The 18-year-old is coming off a tore ACL, which is a horrific injury suffered way too early in someone’s career, however, Sam Presti can take the gamble.

To replace a bench player, he would be a great addition. Topic is a solid playmaker with a good shot, plus he’s a crafty shooter that can turn his game into something deadly. This point forward can play on both sides of the court pretty efficiently, which allows for better bench defense and can turn into starter-like minutes.

Thirteenth overall pick: Sacramento Kings

His stock has risen considerably since taking Purdue to the championship game and what scouts have been able to see of him, which is why Sacramento should be selecting Zach Edey in the lottery. Could this be a risk? Yes, but it is one willing to take.

Edey’s stock has been in the range of either mid-to-late first round, but it has skyrocketed the closer the draft comes. The 22-year-old is coming off an impressive 25 points and 12 rebounds per game season; something that has many teams interested.

The center position is lacking for the Kings, so it would make incredible sense for them to get an impactful player like Edey. He’s an interior player that is hard to stop on both ends of the floor, which is great for easy buckets or contesting/blocking shots.

He can play good defense, get teammates open through setting screens and causing traffic jams, and a good low-scoring package. CourtSideHeat believes Edey will go in the lottery without question.

Fourteenth overall pick: Portland Trail Blazers

Just like the Spurs, the Trail Blazers have two picks in this year’s lottery. That is why CourtSideHeat is projecting them to go all-in on remodeling their frontcourt through the draft; Portland already selected Cody Williams, now they’ll be picking Tristan da Silva.

The biggest concerns facing him would be his lack of athleticism and ability to be effective on both ends; that by far has caused the most panic amongst teams selecting him in the lottery; however, I’m pretty confident he’ll be selected in the later stages of the lottery.

For Portland, it would make sense to draft him. Da Silva has great shooting versatility, especially as a player who specializes in playing either forward position. He’s able to knock down any shot on the court, with his three-ball being a highlight of his game.

I don’t see his lack of athletic abilities being a deterrent for him being selected high in the draft; his basketball IQ is very good, he is able to shoot the ball from anywhere, can pass well, defensively solid, and controls the rim.

Portland should run the “risk” on choosing da Silva.

Conclusion:

This is the end of CourtSideHeat’s official mock draft. The draft is a two-day event starting on Wednesday and concluding on Thursday. First round is Wednesday, second round is Thursday.

All these picks are very good picks for teams that are ready to push themselves into a deeper postseason run, like the Thunder, and for teams who are continually building weapons around a franchise player, like the Spurs.

Notable names that could go in the lottery, if things were to be shaken up, would be Kel’el Ware, Tidjane Salaun, Ja’Kobe Walter, and even Tyler Kolek. However, I’m pretty certain and confident in the fourteen players who were selected in my mock draft.

However, time will tell, as we are quickly approaching this year’s NBA draft.