The New York Knicks made waves on Friday night when they made a blockbuster trade for star Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks sent Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for Towns. In addition, New York is sending salary, including DaQuan Jeffries and draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets to complete the deal, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported. So, how are Brooklyn Nets fans feeling about all this?
Well, one of the first things that likely comes to fans' minds is Mikal Bridges. Brooklyn parted ways with Bridges in June of 2024, but the move was seemingly positive for the Nets, as they regained a significant amount of draft assets and got to focus more on developing younger talent. Still, Brooklyn's rivals across the bridge and former building block forward got a major upgrade with Karl-Anthony Towns' arrival.
The Knicks have Robinson at the center position, but his injury woes left him out of the lineup at the end of the 2024 Playoffs. Moreover, Isaiah Hartenstein left New York for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the offseason. Towns is a center upgrade due to his high-caliber scoring ability, but he also provides insurance in case Robinson's injury woes continue and fills a void Hartenstein left.
It is natural for Nets fans to feel envious seeing their crosstown rivals inch closer to championship contention, but they must not let it get to them.
Nets shining moment will come, but not right away
The Knicks look like they are built to win now. Sure, New York needs to give its new pieces time to gel. But make no mistake, the team wants to win a championship at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Nets eventually want to win a title as well, but their strategy will require a bit more patience.
Brooklyn will enter the 2024-25 season with stout contributors, but the 2025 offseason is when they will take a major leap forward. The Nets control their 2025 draft pick, which is likely to be high, so they might land a coveted prospect like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, or Airious Bailey. In addition, Brooklyn is projected to have as much as $70 million in cap space and can sign a star or two if they desire.
With all this in mind, Nets fans need not be envious of the Knicks' sudden rise. Brooklyn's time to shine will eventually come.