The Knicks are still searching for a third center, and the longer that hunt stretches, the more likely it becomes that they end up shopping the preseason cut market instead of landing a trade target.
That’s where Taj Gibson enters the picture.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto recently pointed out that Gibson is carrying a $3.82 million non-guaranteed salary for this season, which “makes him a potential candidate to be waived” by the Grizzlies. Memphis has also crowded its own frontcourt by trading for Isaiah Stewart and Jerami Grant, signing Quinten Post, and drafting Cameron Boozer Jr. and Karim López.
So Gibson is no longer just a veteran holdover - he’s facing a real roster squeeze. Memphis has 19 players under contract and only space for 15 by opening night, which means cuts are coming somewhere.
For the Knicks, that makes the 41-year-old big man a name to watch. The fit is obvious on paper: New York needs frontcourt depth, and Gibson already has ties to the organization. He previously played for the Knicks, and he also crossed paths with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby during the 2023-24 season.
There are obvious reasons this reunion might not happen. Gibson is older now than he was when he first arrived in New York at 35, and his second stint with the team wasn’t exactly a heavy lift - he averaged 1.0 ppg and 1.8 rpg in 10 appearances. Tim Thibodeau’s absence also works against the idea of the two sides reconnecting.
Still, familiarity matters, especially for a team that doesn’t want to shake up its rotation for the sake of it. The Knicks know exactly what Gibson brings: a selfless presence, a steady voice, and a willingness to accept whatever role is asked of him.
And there’s still some game left. Last season with Memphis, Gibson put up 3.4 ppg and 2.7 rpg in just 9.1 minutes a night. He also made 11 starts for the Hornets in 2024-25, averaged 3.2 rpg in 11.1 minutes, and appeared in 37 games that season, which at least suggests he can handle a third-big job without immediately wearing down.
His playoff résumé is another part of the appeal. Gibson has 71 postseason appearances, including five with the Knicks. He hasn’t won a ring, but he would bring the kind of veteran presence teams lean on when the games tighten up.
That matters for a Knicks team fresh off a title in 2026, especially with opponents trying to get Karl-Anthony Towns into foul trouble. Mike Brown could use a dependable emergency option behind Andre Drummond, someone who can absorb a few important minutes and keep things stable.
New York should still aim higher if the right trade or another cut candidate becomes available. But if the market stays thin, Gibson is the kind of low-friction option that can fill a need without changing the whole picture.
If the bigger swing never comes, the Knicks could do worse than turning to a familiar face and using Gibson to patch the hole while they keep looking for more.
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Knicks Are Losing Two More Pieces Of Their Championship Core
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Knicks Get An Early Test Against A Raptors Threat Fans Cant Ignore
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They will not have to wait long to get a read on it. New York is set to see Toronto twice in the preseason, which should offer an early look at how the two teams stack up before the games start counting. If the Raptors do end up making that kind of splash, those October meetings could feel less like tune-ups and more like a first glimpse at a rival the Knicks may be chasing all season. [Read more 🡒]