A few weeks after the start of the season, the New York Knicks will make the short trip to Philadelphia to play their first group game in the 2024 NBA Cup. The Cup will add a new dimension to the rivalry within the division.

New York is in East Group A with Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Charlotte and Orlando. The group consists of three teams that should secure a 2025 playoff spot and two teams that will likely be selected in the lottery.

The Knicks’ final group game is against the Magic on December 3 at MSG. It could be a loss for New York, as the team played Orlando 3-1 last season. Like the Knicks, the Magic have bulked up their roster in the offseason, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being their most notable addition. Orlando is young, but the playoff experience it gained last year will help in 2024-25.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report has predicted the winners of each group. For East Group A, Bailey did not choose New York or Philadelphia, two teams expected to finish at the top of the conference. Instead, he chose Orlando.

“The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers are probably the better teams, but the Orlando Magic fit a little better into the profile of a successful tournament team during the season.”

If the Magic win East Group A, it doesn’t mean the Knicks can’t make it to the quarterfinals. Like last year, New York could be the Eastern Conference wildcard team.

It wouldn’t be the end of the world if the Knicks didn’t make it past the group stage. Remember who won the Cup last year? The Lakers. Los Angeles won a game against Denver in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers didn’t even come close to winning the NBA title.

Would it be surprising if the Magic made it to the NBA Cup title? Not at all. If Orlando gets going at the right time, the team could head to Las Vegas. As Bailey wrote, the Magic have young players who should be motivated by the prize money.

There is still a chance that the Knicks could become the first team to win the NBA Cup and the NBA title in the same season. One can dream!