It's been a quality over quantity kind of start to the 2024 NBA offseason for the New York Knicks.

They haven't made a ton of moves, but the few they've pulled off hold major implications not only in New York, but across the entire Association.

There isn't a ton to evaluate just yet, yet the 'Bockers rank among the biggest movers and shakers in the entire basketball world. Their summer isn't finished, obviously, but the early signs suggest this has been a transformational time for a team already on the cusp of championship contention.

The Mikal Bridges Blockbuster

Sticker shock is unavoidable when taking the bird's-eye view of the Mikal Bridges blockbuster. Teams don't fork over five first-round picks and a pick swap often, and when they do, it's never for a 27-year-old with the same number of All-Star selections as you and I.

Yet, that's exactly what the Knicks paid to get Bridges and reunite him with his college teammates at Villanova, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart. It's a massive bet on fit, chemistry and cohesion, not to mention an absurdly high investment in someone with no discernible star power.

And it just might work.

While Bridges isn't a star, he is someone who can star in a supporting role. His defense is dominant, as he pairs relentless energy and sound instincts with nimble feet and ridiculous length (the 6'6" swingman boasts a sweeping 7'1" wingspan). His offense is perfectly built for a complementary role, as he's an accurate outside shooter (career 37.5 percent) and aggressive finisher who can keep the ball moving or create offense in a pinch.

Coach Tom Thibodeau will appreciate Bridges' reliability and durability, too. The guy always plays. Major minutes don't seem to bother Bridges, either, as he's averaged more than 34 of them in each of the past three seasons.

The price paid is still enormous, and that has to factor into this evaluation. Still, dismissing this deal as an egregious overpay would be a mistake. It might appear unsightly on the back end depending on how things go for the 'Bockers, but this team is built for the long haul, meaning a lot of the outgoing picks could land somewhere in the back half of the first round.

Grade: B

OG Anunoby's Five-Year, $212.5 Million Deal

Evaluating New York's two big transactions in a vacuum is tricky, because the idea really is for the moves to be taken in concert. Yes, this is a big contract cost for OG Anunoby, a 26-year-old no-time All-Star, but the Knicks have assembled the kind of defensive tandem on the wing that just might have what it takes to bother the Boston Celtics' star-studded combo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Even better, Anunoby, like Bridges, is more than a defensive specialist.

That's where Anunoby does his best work, obviously, as few defenders across the entire league can match his versatility. There might be players who are better at chasing guards around the perimeter or banging with bigs in the low post, but there aren't many (if any) who are equally capable of handling either assignment.

And, again, defense isn't all Anunoby does. He's also typically a nightly supplier of roughly 15 points per game with three-point numbers that impress in both volume (2.2 makes per tilt over the past four seasons) and efficiency (38.2 percent during this same stretch).

There are, of course, potential pitfalls in this pact. For one, you don't see a lot of non-stars scoring average annual salaries north of $40 million. For another, availability has never been a big strength of his. He has reached the 70-game mark just once in his career, when he made 74 trips to the hardwood as a rookie in 2017-18.

There are ways that this investment could go awry. There are reasons to worry how this contract could look during the final few years, as Anunoby is about to celebrate his 27th birthday and could've exited his prime before this agreement is up.

Still, you can see the thought process behind what the 'Bockers were doing. All roads out of the East run through the Boston Celtics until proven otherwise, and the Knicks might have the depth and perimeter defense needed to present the biggest challenge to the reigning champions of any club in the conference.

Grade: B-