The New York Knicks are off to a mediocre start despite their flashy offseason, where they added small forward Mikal Bridges and power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, two stars of basketball.

The Knicks acquired these players through blockbuster trades with the Brooklyn Nets, where they traded for Bridges, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, where they traded for Towns. In addition to these trades, the Knicks extended superstar point guard Jalen Brunson’s contract to four years. 

Despite moving key role players and several years of draft picks, the Knicks seemed likely to be a major contender in the NBA.

So far, that doesn’t seem to totally be the case. The Knicks currently hold a 9-7 record, which puts them at 4th in the Eastern Conference, behind Cleveland at 17-1, Boston at 14-3, and Orlando at 11-7.

In the NBA In-Season Tournament, the Knicks are currently 2-0 with a point differential of +14, putting them at 2nd in the Eastern Conference’s Group A Division, behind the aforementioned Orlando Magic.

So, who’s to blame for this relatively mediocre start? One possible reason is the Knicks’ schedule, as they have played Boston, Cleveland, Houston, and Indiana who all seem to be solid teams this season.

Another possible reason is the lack of rebounding, a stat which the Knicks rank 24th in. They currently average around 42 rebounds per game, likely due to the lack of size in the Knicks. Towns leads the team in rebounds per game with 12.5, so they need to find a solution there, whether they add extra size to the team via trade, free agency, or simply internally.

Given the Knicks’ recent success, it’s safe to assume they will improve their record soon, as their team is simply too good to be just 9-7. They have some relatively easy games soon, as they match-up with Detroit, Charlotte, and Toronto in the coming weeks.