New York Knicks 2022-23 Season Preview, Odds and Best Bet (How Much Does Jalen Brunson Raise New York’s Ceiling?)

The New York Knicks were one of the busiest teams in the NBA offseason, even though they didn’t end up making the big splash everyone expected them to. 

The Knicks missed out on Donovan Mitchell, as he was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but New York keep its budding young core intact, something it would have been forced to part ways with in a Mitchell deal. 

The Knicks also unloaded some failed contracts from the 2021-22 season, trading Kemba Walker, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel in the offseason to free up the cap space to bring in point guard Jalen Brunson. 

Brunson, who broke out in the playoffs last season, has already shown in the preseason that he’s the best point guard New York has had in quite some time. 

However, is the addition of Brunson, and more reliance on the young core enough to get the Knicks back in the playoffs? New York took a major step back last season, but head coach Tom Thibodeau won’t be able to turn to his same veterans over and over again with the new Knicks roster. 

Does Brunson bring out the best in Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and company? Here’s how oddsmakers view the Knicks this season: 

New York Knicks Offseason Moves and Additions

Knicks Roster Additions:

• Trevor Keels (Draft)
• Jalen Brunson (Free Agency)
• Isaiah Hartenstein (Free Agency)

Knicks Roster Losses:

• Alec Burks (Trade)
• Kemba Walker (Trade)
• Nerlens Noel (Trade)
• Taj Gibson (Waived)

New York Knicks Odds to Win NBA Championship, Make Playoffs and Win Total

• Odds to Win the NBA Finals: +16000
• Odds to Win Eastern Conference: +8000
• Make Playoffs: +220
• Win Total: 38.5 (Over -105/Under -115)

New York Knicks Best Bet for 2022-23 NBA Season

Make no mistake, the Eastern Conference is loaded in the 2022-23 season, so asking New York to jump from 11th to a guaranteed playoff team would be a huge ask. 

That being said, the Knicks should be much better with Brunson running the show and quietly one of the deeper benches in the NBA. 

Obi Toppin has looked dominant early in the preseason, and he honestly may push Julius Randle for minutes this season if the veteran struggles with his shot again. 

The bright side for the Knicks is that Brunson takes the ball out of Randle’s hands more often than not, meaning the power forward doesn’t have to create as much for this team. That’s a good thing, as the Knicks can focus on getting Randle touches where he can score, and hopefully play more efficiently. 

The bench has Derrick Rose back, who missed the majority of last season with an ankle injury. Since coming back for his second stint with the Knicks, Rose has been a bench catalyst, and New York is 35-26. 

Between Barrett, Toppin, Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickley, Cam Reddish and Quentin Grimes, the Knicks have plenty of young players that they are relying on, but many who deserved more playing time last season but were blocked by Walker, Burks and others. 

The Knicks have to be better on offense (23rd in offensive rating last season) if they want to compete with the class of the East. Brunson should help, and I think this team at least finishes top-10 in the East, and likely in the play-in conversation. 

Right now, you can bet them at +125 to finish the regular season in the play-in tournament in the East. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.