The center market is shaping up around a few big names, and the top of the board brings a mix of upside, leverage and durability questions.
Jalen Duren sits at No. 1 after the best season of his career in 2025-26. The Detroit Pistons big man averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 65%, and the production was good enough to earn him his first All-Star selection along with All-NBA third-team honors.
Even with that breakout, the relationship between Duren and Detroit appears to be strained. According to The Athletic, the two sides remain far apart in contract talks, and Duren could look into sign-and-trade options once free agency begins.
Walker Kessler comes in next, and the numbers from 2024-25 show why he’s so highly regarded. The Utah restricted free agent finished second in the league in blocks at 2.4 per game and fifth in rebounds at 12.2.
But the market may be complicated by the gap between player and team. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that “a gulf remains between Utah and the restricted free agent,” even after the Jazz reportedly were prepared to offer $140 million over five years.
Kessler then played only five games last season before season-ending shoulder surgery.
Kristaps Porzingis rounds out the top three as an unrestricted free agent with obvious appeal and obvious risk. When he’s available, he still produces, putting up 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 2025-26.
The problem is getting enough of him. Porzingis was limited to 32 games last season between the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors because of a mix of nagging injuries and illnesses, and he hasn’t appeared in more than 65 games in a season since 2016-17.
In Other News...
Knicks Just Saw A Major Mitchell Robinson Threat Fade Away
The market around Mitchell Robinson looks a lot quieter than it did a few days ago. Brooklyns decision to re-sign DayRon Sharpe and install him as its starting center takes one obvious suitor out of the chase, and several other teams that had been mentioned as possible landing spots have also started to drift away from the picture.
For the Knicks, that should make the retention conversation feel a little less frantic, at least on the surface. The challenge has not disappeared, though, because keeping Robinson still has to fit inside New Yorks financial guardrails, and that means the front office has to thread a narrow path if it wants to avoid losing a valuable piece while also preserving flexibility for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Suddenly Have A Surprising Backup Plan For A Familiar Problem
Jonathan Isaac suddenly finds himself back in the conversation after the Magic waived him to clear the books following Paolo Bancheros rookie max extension. For a Knicks team that has spent plenty of time chasing defensive versatility and frontcourt size, the move creates an interesting market wrinkle around a player whose value has long been tied to what he can do on that end of the floor.
There is, of course, a clear catch. Isaacs recent injury history and limited availability have been part of the reason his price tag could be much more manageable than his talent might suggest, which is exactly why he may end up drawing attention from teams looking for help without a major financial commitment. For New York, the appeal is obvious enough: a familiar kind of problem in the frontcourt, and a possible answer that would not require a heavy lift. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks May Hold A Quiet Edge In Their Center Search
The Knicks are keeping an eye on the center market, and Kevon Looney has emerged as a name worth tracking as free agency approaches. League reports suggest the veteran big man is expected to have his New Orleans team option declined, which would push him into unrestricted free agency and immediately put several contenders on notice. New Yorks interest makes sense on paper, especially with the kind of steady frontcourt piece the Knicks are expected to monitor this summer.
Looney also appears to be on the radar of other teams, including Boston and Golden State, which means the Knicks will not be operating in a quiet lane. Still, there is some real familiarity here, and SNYs Ian Begley has reported that the interest runs both ways. If the Knicks are looking for an edge in a crowded center search, this is the kind of situation where relationships can matter almost as much as the market itself. [Read more 🡒]