East Notes: Knicks, Expectations, Sixers, Caleb Martin, Pistons

Knicks

Hey, it’s OK to dream if you’re a Knicks fan. At least, that’s what Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post wrote. Given all the offseason moves (namely, Mikal Bridges) the Knicks and their fans can aim high.

“But mostly, it’s time to speculate. It’s time to dream,” Vaccaro wrote. “That’s the fun of the NBA Power Ratings that are also in this paper, where we have the Knicks fourth, which seems about in line with what much of the preseason odds say. The consensus is the Celtics are favorites, as they should be. The Thunder are right there, with the Nuggets and Timberwolves in the West. The Sixers and Knicks are in a virtual heat for the fourth slot.”

• The Knicks could still bring back big man Precious Achiuwa, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. “And yet, for now, they are best leaving Achiuwa unsigned — and Achiuwa can maximize his market by waiting,” Katz wrote. “The NBA’s economy has changed under this new collective bargaining agreement. The middle class is getting hit. Zero free agents this summer have received the non-taxpayer midlevel exception for multiple seasons.”

76ers

Forward Caleb Martin expressed excitement over playing with Joel Embiid and Paul George while speaking with ESPN.

“Two of those guys, obviously, PG and Embiid have been some very tough covers in the past so I think having somebody with Embiid’s capabilities on that side of the ball — to be at that size and get it done and put the ball in the basket like he does, I just think it enhances the coverages and what we’re trying to do and get a lot of guys really good looks,” Martin said, via Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire.

• As I wrote last month, though, it’s fair to question whether the Sixers’ new Big Three of Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey will work. Read the full take here.
• Celtics star Jayson Tatum also had a take on the new-look Sixers and Knicks. “Like, I see all the changes in people switching teams and obviously teams is getting better, and that’s every offseason, and you got to have like an appropriate fear or respect for your opponent, right?” Tatum said, via Carlin. “You don’t never want to disrespect who you playing, but with that being said, it’s like we won. Like, when you win a championship, you get to talk how you want to talk. They gotta go through us.”

Pistons

The Pistons changed coaches (from Monty Williams to J.B. Bickerstaff) and added some veteran pieces in Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Reed. Oh, and gave Cade Cunningham a contract extension.

That resulted in a “B” grade in the offseason, per Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report.

“This offseason was more about Cade’s max extension and the incoming veterans who should hopefully make his life as the lead playmaker easier,” Bailey wrote. “Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. all have playoff experience and can space the floor. Add the recently re-signed Simone Fontecchio to that core, and it should be easy for the Pistons to keep Cunningham surrounded by shooting. If that’s the case, his assist numbers could go up. More importantly, if defenses are more worried about collapsing on Cunningham’s drives or isolations, his own efficiency could begin to rise as well.”

• Could the Pistons make a run at Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro? It sure seems that way. We have that full story here.