The Philadelphia 76ers remade their entire roster this offseason. It started by convincing Paul George to leave Los Angeles to create a Big 3. Daryl Morey did a masterful job building around his stars, and the Sixers believe they are in the thick of the title race.
The Knicks shook up the NBA on Friday night by trading Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and others for Karl-Anthony Towns. The full details are still being finalized. This move continued an offseason of New York going all-in, and they made another massive upgrade.
The blockbuster trade certainly impacted the Sixers' title chances, and here is a look at the most significant ways.
3. Knicks improved title odds
New York was projected to begin the season with Precious Achiuwa starting at the five before this blockbuster trade. The Knicks now have a four-time All-Star to fill that role and options when Mitchell Robinson returns from injury. Karl-Anthony Towns gives New York another top-end talent and even more firepower.
The defending champion Celtics are the top team in the East, but the Knicks, 76ers, and Bucks are in the next group. All three teams have the star talent to challenge Boston, and things will be decided by depth, health, and some fortunate bounces when the games matter most.
New York was a strong challenger before this trade, but acquiring KAT gives them a new dimension. They got one of the best offensive big men in the game and an elite shooting seven-footer. Towns is a matchup problem, especially for the Sixers who are light on fours.
2. The 76ers versus Knicks rivalry gets a new wrinkle
Embiid and Towns have had beef for years. From fighting on the floor to trolling on social media, the two big men do not get along. It now becomes a division rivalry, and fans will be treated to four meetings every season.
Things started in 2017 but escalated in 2019 when Embiid and KAT drew suspensions for fighting. The two big men continued to go out at it for years. Fans may get a marquee showdown where the Sixers superstar can prove he truly owns the matchup against Towns.
Things have quieted down between the two over the last few years, but becoming division rivals could be just the spark this rivalry needed. Embiid will certainly have troll mode turned on if he dominates Towns at any point this season.
1. The Sixers have a hidden edge in the matchup with the new-look Knicks
Embiid has averaged 28.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 30.9 minutes in 11 meetings versus KAT per Stat Muse. Those are monster numbers, including going for 51 points and 12 boards in their most recent matchup.
Even when Robinson returns, the Knicks likely close small with Towns at the five. That could be problematic against the 76ers. Embiid will look to attack the newest Knick every time down the floor and this could totally change the matchup. More Robinson means less of one of the Knicks' trusted wings. Josh Hart likely feels the squeeze, which is advantage Sixers.
The Philadelphia 76ers did not enjoy watching the New York Knicks improve their roster, but both teams are still chasing the Boston Celtics. A healthy Joel Embiid is a problem no team can solve, but that has not happened in the playoffs. The Sixers will do everything possible to make it a reality this season. Will it be in the cards? Stay tuned to find out.
