Do The Knicks Still Have To Worry About The Cavs? W/ Danny Cunningham
August 18, 2026
AI Summary
5 min read“We’ve only had one team that’s even made the conference finals in the last seven years after winning a championship.” That single fact, offered by Gavin Shaw on Locked On Knicks, frames the entire conversation with Danny Cunningham of Locked On Cavs. The Knicks just won a title, but the historical odds against repeating are brutal, and the episode’s real weight lands on a different question: Have the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team the Knicks beat to get there, done enough this offseason to remain a genuine threat?
The Knicks’ Mixed Offseason and the Dolan Factor
The Knicks’ summer was a study in contradictions. On the positive side, they retained key contributors like Landry Shamet (who took less money, a Leon Rose specialty) and Jose Alvarado, whose performance in the clinching game was described as “one of the most consequential final games ever.” They also kept young wing Mody Ora, a luxury for a team bereft of draft picks and wing depth.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:30) **Gavin and Danny introduce the episode** - Gavin Shaw and Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs) set up the conversation: grading the Knicks’ offseason and assessing whether the Cavaliers remain a threat in the East.
- 2 (03:50) **Grading the Knicks’ offseason** - Gavin gives a mixed review, highlighting the retention of key role players but calling the loss of Mitchell Robinson a “punch to the gut.”
- 3 (07:06) **James Dolan’s “suicidal” second apron comments** - Gavin reacts to Dolan publicly declaring the Knicks won’t enter the second apron, which he calls an unforced act of self-sabotage.
- 4 (11:40) **How the Knicks replace Mitchell Robinson** - Gavin breaks down the Andrew Drummond signing and the loss of the Jalen Brunson-Mitch pick-and-roll dynamic.
- 5 (16:07) **Mitch Robinson signing with Boston** - Gavin admits it hurt more that Mitch went to a rival, making the Knicks worse while the Celtics got better.
- 6 (17:56) **Regular season approach for the defending champs** - Gavin expects the Knicks to prioritize health over seeding, citing the recent trend of champions declining the next season.
- 7 (21:43) **The depth of the Eastern Conference** - Danny and Gavin agree the East is loaded, making regular-season seeding less meaningful because of potential tough first-round matchups.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
The New York Knicks shake up the Eastern Conference landscape after capturing a long-awaited NBA Championship. Can they defend their crown without Mitchell Robinson anchoring the paint? Gavin Schall teams up with Danny Cunningham to dissect James Dolan’s headline-grabbing second apron decision, the pain of losing Robinson to the rival Boston Celtics, and whether or not the Cavaliers are still title contenders.
Key topics include offseason grades, the challenge of replacing Robinson’s elite rim protection, and Karl-Anthony Towns’ looming contract questions. With a grueling Eastern Conference, health management, and fierce regular season opponents like the Spurs, Thunder, and Celtics, the conversation also explores whether the Knicks can maintain their edge while keeping eyes on April and beyond. Will New York’s carefully constructed roster withstand the pressure, or has their championship window already narrowed?
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