Hornets vs Knicks Preview: Towns Expected to Make Debut, New-Look Knicks Still Need Polishing

On October 7, NBA preseason action continues with an Eastern Conference matchup between the Hornets and the Knicks.

The Knicks finished last season’s regular season with a record of 50 wins and 32 losses, ranking second in the East, but they fell short in the second round of the playoffs, losing 3-4 to the Pacers and missing out on the Eastern Finals.

In the offseason, the Knicks signed OG Anunoby to a five-year, $210 million contract extension, while Brunson inked a four-year, $156.5 million deal ahead of schedule. In terms of role players, the Knicks renewed their contract with Achiwa, signed Payne and Shamet, and drafted Dadyae, Colek, McCarthy, and Hookpolter among others in the draft.

In terms of trades, after losing Hartenstein, the Knicks made some big moves, first acquiring Bridges, and then sending Randle and DiVincenzo in a multi-team trade to bring in Towns.

After such significant changes, it remains unclear whether the Knicks have become stronger or weaker in the short term.

Due to long-term absences of Ball, Mark Williams, and other key players, the Hornets struggled last season with a disappointing record of 21 wins and 61 losses, placing them third from the bottom in the East. In the offseason, the Hornets hired Charles Lee, the chief assistant coach who helped the Celtics win the championship last season, which has given Hornets fans more hope.

The Hornets’ player changes were not significant during the offseason, with the additions of Josh Green and Seth Curry strengthening their outside shooting and defense. 39-year-old Taj Gibson joined the team as a player mentor, and in the draft, the Hornets selected French forward Salone at No. 6, who at just 18 years old is seen as a future force for the Hornets.

According to media reports, Towns is expected to make his Knicks debut in this game, which is one of the biggest highlights. What kind of performance will Towns deliver after moving to the East? The preseason games will give us a taste.

In terms of injuries, currently confirmed absent are Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks and Mark Williams, Cody Martin of the Hornets.

How will the trio of Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller perform together? The on-court command of new Hornets coach Charles Lee is also a point of focus.

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