The Knicks’ center hunt is still very much alive, and the latest name worth watching is Johni Broome.
New York has already brought in James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks, but that doesn’t close the book on the position. One of those two still has to prove he belongs on the roster, and that outcome is far from guaranteed. So if the Knicks are keeping tabs on big men who might shake loose, Broome fits the bill.
The timing matters. The Clippers finalized their trade for Kawhi Leonard this past weekend, and that move left Los Angeles with 17 players under contract. Since only 15 can be carried for opening night, the Clippers may have to cut or move someone, and Broome is the kind of player who could get squeezed out.
That opens a possible path for the Knicks. Los Angeles just picked up Broome in a deal with the 76ers, but a roster crunch could push him back onto the market.
If that happens, New York could step in and add another layer of center depth. The Clippers, meanwhile, might also be looking to recover some draft capital after the league came down on them following that Kawhi Leonard verdict, and the Knicks have future second-rounders to offer.
If New York wants to keep those seconds in its pocket, it could simply wait. Broome is new, unproven in this setting, and doesn’t have much security on a Clippers team that looks like it’s headed in a different direction. Los Angeles could decide it likes the rest of its bubble options better, then move on from Broome after already getting a pick back just for taking him on from Philly.
There’s also another wrinkle: center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser went under the knife again this summer and could be out for some time. That may make the Clippers more willing to hold Broome for now. If that’s the case, the Knicks would still need to keep an eye on the situation and could circle back later in the season.
Broome’s rookie year didn’t give anyone much to work with. He played just 11 minutes for the 76ers, so the sample size is tiny.
But there is some upside here, and that’s part of the appeal. New York would be looking at him as a possible third-string center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond.
And if the Knicks can land him, the upside could be better than other backup options such as Chris Boucher or Tony Bradley. Broome is only 24, and his G League numbers with the Delaware Blue Coats showed more of what he can do: 33.2 minutes, 22.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 8.0 rebounds across 18 games.
His Auburn résumé is hard to miss, too. He helped lead the Tigers to their second-ever Final Four, was a two-time All-American, and became only the fourth player in NCAA Division history with 2,500 career points and 1,500 rebounds.
That kind of background is why this feels like a swing worth considering. If Broome becomes available, the Knicks may have a chance to turn a messy situation in Los Angeles into a bargain for Leon Rose.
In Other News...
Knicks Fans Are Mourning A Former Lottery Pick From That 2003 Class
Michael Sweetney, the former Knicks forward who arrived as the No. 9 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, has died at 43. His passing was announced by his wife, India Sweetney, on Facebook, where she shared her grief and love for him, bringing a sad note to a player many Knicks fans still remember from that era of the franchise.
Sweetney spent two seasons in New York before his career continued with other NBA teams and overseas stops, part of the long road many former first-round picks travel after the spotlight of draft night fades. For Knicks fans, his name is tied to a hopeful 2003 class and to the memories that linger even when a players time in orange and blue was brief. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Center Depth Plan Still Feels Unsettled After Liam Robbins Move
The Knicks added some organizational size at center by signing Liam Robbins and waiving him soon after, a familiar roster maneuver as teams try to keep developing big men in-house without crowding the NBA roster. Robbins, 27, has limited NBA experience, but the move gives New York another prospect to work with as it continues looking for depth behind its frontcourt rotation.
Robbins is expected to land with the Knicks' G League affiliate, where he can stay close to the organization while getting regular minutes. For a team still sorting out its long-term center picture, the arrangement keeps the door open for more if Robbins shows enough in the coming months, even if his immediate role is likely to begin away from the main roster. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Have A Good Reason To Act Early On Miles McBride
Miles McBride has become one of the more quietly important pieces on the Knicks roster, and his place in the rotation now comes with a bigger question attached. As the longest-tenured player on the team, he is heading into the final year of his second contract, which puts New York in a familiar front-office spot: decide whether to lock in a useful, homegrown guard before the market gets involved.
The appeal is obvious. McBride fits the Knicks current shape as a 3-and-D guard, and his value should only grow in a system built around Karl-Anthony Towns handling more playmaking duties from the center spot. For New York, acting early would not just be about keeping a dependable defender and shooter in place, but about making sure one of its most natural roster fits does not become a more complicated decision down the line. [Read more 🡒]