The Post’s Stefan Bondy breaks down the Knicks’ top storylines heading into training camp.
Best battle
Barring a surprise, the starting lineup seems pretty set: PG Jalen Brunson, SG Mikal Bridges, SF Josh Hart, PF OG Anunoby, C Karl-Anthony Towns.
That’s a small lineup with no rim protection but maximizes the talent with the roster’s five best players.
So the best battles in camp will be for the reserve minutes.
Assuming Miles McBride is the sixth man, that leaves opportunities to win playing time for Precious Achiuwa, Jericho Sims, Tyler Kolek, Cam Payne and Landry Shamet. Who will impress in Charleston?
Story to watch develop
Everything involving Towns.
It’s one thing when a player joins a new team in the summer, but it’s quite another level of adjustment — both on and off the court — when the trade is a roster-shifting blockbuster completed just days before training camp.
A similar move involving Dame Lillard to Milwaukee last year didn’t go well.
He was relocated on the eve of training camp, lost focus, couldn’t get comfortable and struggled mightily. Conversely, Jrue Holiday was sent to Boston under similar circumstances and won a title.
Towns, 28, played his entire career in Minnesota, and now he’s reuniting with a coach he once criticized for hampering player development. Towns’ fit in the system, the culture and the locker room will be worth monitoring from Day 1.
Coach’s toughest challenge
Adjusting and reimagining the defense. Assuming Towns plays center until Mitchell Robinson returns (which could be a while), the Knicks won’t have a rim-protecting presence and the paint will be vulnerable.
It goes against the philosophies and schemes that made Tom Thibodeau’s defenses successful in New York.
The team also sacrificed depth in the trade, making health of the starters more of a priority.
Most intriguing rookie
The Knicks’ faith in Tyler Kolek can be measured in money.
They gave the rookie $9 million over four years, including $6.6 million guaranteed — an NBA record for a second-round pick.
Kolek responded with an impressive Summer League, reinforcing the belief that the Marquette man can grab a rotation spot on a contending team.
He’s got competition at backup point guard — specifically from McBride, who fits better as a shooting guard, and newcomer Payne — but Kolek may already be the best passer on the roster.
Most intriguing newcomer
Even counting the Towns blockbuster, Bridges represents the biggest trade acquisition of the Leon Rose era and should fit seamlessly into the locker room with his college buddies.
It’s also assumed that Bridges, a role player with the Suns but No. 1 option in Brooklyn, can hit the ground running as the starting small forward.
We’ll see soon enough. Training camp is also about team bonding, and it would be smart for the Villanova trio — Brunson, Hart, Bridges — to incorporate the rest of the roster into the crew.
Most notable absence
Julius Randle had been a part of five straight training camps — the most on the Knicks because Robinson was injured for one — and now he’s off to freezing Minnesota.
The trade came just a few days after Randle had a South Bronx basketball court named after him because he helped donate over $1.3 million to the high school. Rough business.
On the court, Randle was the first three-time Knicks All-Star since Carmelo Anthony, the franchise’s 17th all-time leading scorer and fourth in 3-pointers made.
Biggest comeback
Anunoby finished last season incapable of running in Game 7 because of a hamstring strain.
Counting the playoffs, he missed 31 of the final 49 games because of injuries, reinforcing the red flags over his durability.
But the Knicks clearly weren’t overly concerned.
They gave Anunoby a fully guaranteed $212.5 million contract, then made him the power forward by dealing Randle.
To make this season work, Anunoby must stay healthy.
Don’t be surprised if …
The Knicks struggle in preseason.
Their star point guard underwent hand surgery in the summer. He’s fully recovered, but rhythm takes time.
Remember, Brunson and Hart both played for Team USA last summer.
This summer, they podcasted during the Olympics.
Anunoby, as mentioned above, missed time after elbow surgery last season. Bridges is new. Towns is new.
Hart typically doesn’t hit his stride until February. This is not a recipe for success in mostly meaningless exhibitions.
