Soccerforall24

The 2023-24 campaign figures to be a particularly important one for New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.

After all, Thibodeau is entering the fourth season of a five-year deal. Ian Begley of SNY reported contract discussions between the coach and front office “never reached an advanced stage in the offseason,” and the chances of those talks picking up again “obviously depends on what happens during the season.”

New York in 2023-24 will be held to a different standard than it perhaps was when Thibodeau started his tenure with the franchise in 2020-21 in part because of his own success.

The Knicks advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign and just the second time since the 1999-2000 season. They will surely be expected to build on that showing, especially under the bright spotlight that playing in the Big Apple brings.

Unfortunately for the team and its fans, the second round might be something of a ceiling for the roster as currently constructed.

After all, Donte DiVincenzo was the only notable addition this offseason. While he is a quality depth piece with experience playing on marquee franchises from his time on the Golden State Warriors, that might not be enough to make up the gap with the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.

Instead, the Knicks will be relying on players such as Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle to be even better with an additional year of experience together under their collective belt.

That could be a formula for success. This will be Brunson’s second season with the team, and that continuity with the primary ball-handler and distributor could lead to everyone taking a jump in 2023-24.

If it does, that could mean a new contract for Thibodeau.