The Knicks’ hunt for a final roster spot got a lot clearer in Las Vegas, even if it didn’t end the way they wanted.
New York went after Moussa Cisse with a two-year offer sheet that included one partial guaranteed season, a move that said plenty about where the front office’s head is at. The Dallas Mavericks matched the deal in under 12 hours, keeping the 6’11” big man in place. But the bigger takeaway for the Knicks is hard to miss: they’re aiming to use that 15th and final roster spot on a center.
That pursuit didn’t come out of nowhere. Before making a run at Cisse, the Knicks checked in on Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate and New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi. The message has been consistent, even if the names have changed.
And it makes sense. New York already signed Andre Drummond for the minimum, but the depth chart behind Karl-Anthony Towns still needs help. Mitchell Robinson’s limited minutes left a real hole in the rotation, and the Knicks can’t expect one player to patch it all up - especially not a soon-to-be 33-year-old whose defensive value has been limited and who doesn’t really operate outside traditional drop coverage.
That’s why the front office’s approach points in one direction. The Knicks have been looking for another center before summer league, and that remains the plan with one roster spot left to fill.
The reality is even starker when you look at how thin the options are. Their third center in the rotation is probably OG Anunoby. Small-ball looks can work in bursts, but they can’t be the default answer.
That’s also why the debate over whether New York should use the final spot on second-round picks Jack Kayil or Tyler Nickel feels mostly settled. Neither is a big man, and the Knicks need someone who can soak up center minutes.
Period. End of story.
No exceptions.
There is one wrinkle. The Knicks can open another roster spot by moving a small salary, though that would likely be bad news for Pacome Dadiet and possibly Tyler Kolek. If they go that route, it would give them room to keep one of their summer-league standouts.
Until then, the answer is pretty straightforward. Unless there’s a trade, the Knicks’ final roster spot belongs to a center.
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For the Knicks, the issue is not abstract. Their decision to avoid crossing the second apron has already carried basketball consequences, including the loss of Mitchell Robinson, who is now on a three-year deal elsewhere. Across the league, other front offices are making similar calculations, and Oklahoma Citys recent move to get under the line only underscored how aggressively teams are treating that cap marker. The Knicks may not be alone in feeling the squeeze, but they know exactly what it costs when the bill comes due. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Suddenly Have A New Center Problem After Cisse Twist
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Knicks Repeat Hopes Just Got More Complicated In A Familiar Place
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Aaron Wiggins was brought in earlier this month to help the bench offense, and the broader picture is clear enough for the Knicks to notice. Atlanta is trying to turn last springs playoff resistance into something sturdier for the next meeting, and the additions are designed to make that path a lot less forgiving for a team that would rather not see this opponent again in a high-stakes series. [Read more 🡒]