The Knicks are still sorting out the aftermath of their title run, and one of the biggest remaining questions is how they want to handle the center spot behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond.
Mitchell Robinson is no longer in that mix. The former Knicks starter left for the Boston Celtics in free agency, and ESPN reported the deal this way: “Free agent center Mitchell Robinson, fresh off winning an NBA title with the New York Knicks, has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal to sign with the Boston Celtics, with a player option in the third season, sources tell ESPN's Shams Charania. Robinson was the longest-tenured Knick and one of only two rotation players originally drafted by New York (Miles McBride being the other) who were heavy contributors in their championship run,” ESPN wrote.
That departure has left New York trying to find a third center, but the process has been rough. The team has made it a priority to add depth at the position, and so far the search has not broken its way.
“This has been an offseason of failed center acquisition attempts for the Knicks, with trades and signings gone wrong. Now, they're forced to weigh Backup Plans P-Z after the previous efforts fell short,” SI’s Isaiah De Los Santos wrote.
One name still on the board is Kelly Olynyk. De Los Santos pointed to the veteran as a possible low-risk answer for New York, though he also noted the concerns that come with him.
“Olynyk absolutely comes with his faults, with availability and a lack of defense presenting two legitimate worries. But as long as the Knicks can get him on a tryout deal, they won't be on the hook in case he doesn't work out.
This allows them to reap the benefits of bringing him and playing him a good chunk of minutes during the preseason, without necessarily needing to move forward with him on the roster for opening night. There are still a couple of threats out there to give Olynyk the deal he's looking for, with teams like the Lakers firmly in the center market.
But the 13-year pro could pounce on an offer from New York,” Santos wrote.
For the Knicks, that kind of arrangement makes sense on paper. Olynyk is coming off the least productive season of his career, which gives New York a chance to take a close look at him in the preseason without committing heavily.
He has already earned $121 million in his career, and the appeal for the Knicks is pretty clear: experience, size, shooting, and a player who would accept a limited role. With two roster spots still open, New York has time to be patient. Olynyk may be one of the cleaner fits left.
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Greens broader read on the team was pretty straightforward: there is more depth and more youth here than there was before, and that can be a good thing if the right pieces settle in quickly. For the Lakers, the real question is whether that pool of newer faces can become a strength instead of a project, because in a Western Conference that punishes uncertainty, the margin for error is thin and the difference between a solid season and a frustrating one could come down to which of those lower-profile additions actually takes a step forward. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Still Have One Roster Need They Clearly Do Not Trust
The Lakers spent the offseason trying to shore up the middle by adding Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney, but the picture at center still looks unsettled enough that the front office is keeping its eyes open. With the roster at full capacity, any move now would require some accounting work, which is usually a sign a team is still not fully convinced it has enough protection behind its front line.
Dwight Powell has come up as one possible fit, and the appeal is easy to understand: he already knows people in the building and would not need much of a reset to get comfortable. Even so, Los Angeles remains active in both the free-agent and trade markets, and the fact that it is still monitoring every avenue says plenty about how much trust it has in its current depth at the position. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Roster Crunch Could Cost A Young Piece Fans Keep Watching
With training camp winding down, the Lakers are still working through a roster puzzle that could force some tough decisions before opening night. Several names have been circulating in trade chatter, including Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia, as the front office keeps exploring ways to improve the group while staying under the roster limit.
For a team that has spent much of the offseason trying to balance immediate help with longer-term upside, the pressure is showing up in the final spots on the roster. Nothing has been finalized yet, but the fact that Los Angeles is actively shopping some players suggests the last moves may come down to fit as much as talent, and one young piece fans have kept an eye on could be caught in the middle. [Read more 🡒]