“Their Best Player is Jalen Brunson.. a 6’1 Lefty”: Despite Knicks’ 4-0 Run Since OG Anunoby Trade, SAS Blasts Front Office

Stephen A. Smith has taken the stage to provide his unfiltered opinions on the NBA world. And this time, the subject of interest is the New York Knicks. The Knicks have become a hot topic since the OG Anunoby trade. Building a roster around their star player, Jalen Brunson, New York has been in search of potential candidates to take the team that extra mile.

While Anunoby brings great depth defensively, it wasn’t the solution. A move in the right direction? Definitely! Since the acquisition, the Knicks have only seen good things from him. But Stephen A. believes there is a lot more the management can do to capitalize on their steady progress. And the first move would be to find a Number 1 option that is not Jalen Brunson.

As he puts it, “Their best player is Jalen Brunson, who is a 6’1 lefty”. To be a true title contender against formidable teams like the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat, they would need an equally powerful player. Unfortunately, Smith does not think Brunson has reached that stage.

The Knicks have improved, and the management has been making the right moves. They also hold around 11 picks in their pockets right now for the next seven or eight years. SAS believes that “at some point” they have got to “pull the trigger.” And his personal and professional choice is Donovan Mitchell – as the No.1 scoring option. Next comes Brunson and then Julius Randle.

As of now, the Knicks rely heavily on Stephen A.’s No. 2 and 3 options to take the heavy offensive load.

Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle see heavy duties following OG trade

While the post-Anunoby trade time has seen the Knicks with victories so far, it also saw their two stars with heavier responsibilities. Namely, on the offensive side of things. Since the trade, both Brunson and Randle have been playing longer minutes on the court.

Read More: NBA All-Star Race: Jalen Brunson Gets Massive Uproar Amid Knicks’ 4-0 Run

More importantly, they haven’t missed a single game this season, either. The last five games show Randle with an average of 36.4 minutes per game, while the 27-year-old Villanova product is averaging 37.4 minutes. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were the Big Apple’s next offensive power couple. Having traded the duo without replacing them was the reason for the sudden change.

Of course, the team knew what the effects of such a trade. And that must be why the 2x All-Star had said, “Thirty-six, 40, 42. That sh*t’s all same to me.” Pretty sure everybody on the team thinks the same too. After all, Coach Thibodeau isn’t known for load management.

Watch This Story: Rumors Swirl Around as 29-Year-Old 2x World Series Winner’s Trade Took Center Stage