Nick Richards ending up with the Miami Heat was the latest clue in a pretty clear Knicks blueprint: if New York adds another center behind Karl-Anthony Towns, it’s almost certainly going to come through a trade.
That has been the direction for a while, and the roster math keeps pushing the same way. Once you factor in the available two-way spots, the Knicks actually have more open room than any other NBA team. That kind of flexibility doesn’t usually sit around for a camp battle among fringe options.
Richards wasn’t necessarily the only possible answer, but he also didn’t look like the real solution to the Knicks’ third-big problem. He was more of a recognizable name with size than a true fit, and the fact that New York never really seemed to open that door says plenty about where this is headed.
The free-agent market does not offer much help at this point. Jalen Duren is the best center still available, and there is no realistic path for the Knicks to land him on the veteran’s minimum.
After that, the list gets thin fast, with Mason Plumlee, Kevin Love, Dwight Powell and Bismack Biyombo leading the group of mid-to-late-30s options. Drew Eubanks, Olivier Sarr, Xavier Tillman and Tony Bradley are in the next tier.
That is not the kind of pool you turn to if you want someone who can push Andre Drummond for the job of KAT’s primary backup. It is shaky even if the goal is simply to fill out the third-center spot.
So the trade market is the obvious next stop, whether New York makes the move before the season or waits until the year is underway and more centers become available. Either way, this feels like a matter of when, not if.
And the Knicks do have the pieces to make something happen. They are within $3.3 million of the second apron, though they are not entering it, and they still have enough assets to go after a medium-sized upgrade. Deuce McBride, Pacome Dadiet’s could-be expiring contract, a 2033 first-round pick, two first-round swaps in 2030 and 2032, plus a stack of second-rounders give the front office plenty of options.
That opens the door to all kinds of targets, from lower-profile names like Dylan Cardwell and Ryan Kalkbrenner to more appealing possibilities such as Moussa Diabate, Kel’el Ware or even Zach Edey.
The exact target will depend on what New York wants to prioritize. It could settle for a cheaper placeholder now and look for a bigger swing later. But the message from the Richards decision is hard to miss: the Knicks have been leaving enough clues to suggest their next center is coming by trade.
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Knicks Still Have One Roster Hole That Could Cost Them Big
Andre Drummond gives the Knicks a workable answer behind Karl-Anthony Towns for now, but the bigger question is what happens after the backup center spot. With Mitchell Robinson gone, New York has addressed one part of the frontcourt picture on a minimum deal, yet the roster still looks thin enough at the five to make depth a real concern as the season wears on.
That matters because Towns just came through a demanding postseason, and the Knicks cannot really afford to lean on him too heavily in the wrong stretches. The team has explored younger options to fill out the position, but if those moves do not come together, the front office may have to keep searching for a more established answer before this gap turns into a problem. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face One Early Reality As Next Title Push Takes Shape
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For the Knicks, the bigger picture now goes beyond one birthday or one interview. There are already early questions about how the front office handles its next wave of decisions, from potential contract talks with Karl-Anthony Towns to the kind of flexibility that can disappear quickly if the wrong pieces have to be moved. Miles McBride is part of that conversation too, and the way New York sorts through those choices could shape just how long this title window stays open. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Have An Under-The-Radar Center Option Worth Watching
The Knicks have spent much of the summer piecing together their frontcourt depth, and Duop Reath has emerged as a name worth keeping on the radar. With Mitchell Robinson gone and the team thin on true big men, Reath fits the profile of a low-cost depth center who could help fill out the roster if New York wants another body in the middle.
Reaths NBA path has been uneven since a strong rookie year, with his production trending down over three seasons, but there is still some intrigue here because he is reportedly healthy after foot surgery. He has also been seen working out with other players as he prepares for the upcoming season, which keeps the door open on whether the Knicks view him as more than just an emergency option. [Read more 🡒]