The Knicks may not need to rush into a center decision, and Hunter Dickinson’s sudden availability only strengthens that approach.
On Tuesday, the Pelicans waived the two-way big man, and after he cleared the standard 48-hour claim window, he became free to sign with any team. For New York, that creates a clean opening. The Knicks are looking for center help, and Dickinson fits the kind of low-risk path they can actually take advantage of.
The money side makes immediate sense. Dickinson went undrafted last season before landing a two-way deal, the kind of contract that doesn’t hit a team’s cap space.
He appeared in five NBA games as a rookie and scored 12 total points, so he’s very likely to be in the same general market again in 2026-27. Because no team claimed him, he may even have to settle for a non-guaranteed training camp invite this preseason just to get his next shot.
That would give New York a chance to evaluate him without making any real commitment.
What makes him interesting is that he isn’t just a body. Dickinson is a seven-footer who rebounds like it’s his job, averaging 9.2 boards per game across five college seasons and then putting up 11.0 rebounds per game, including 3.2 on offense, in 44 G League games this past year. That kind of production matters for a Knicks team that would love another big who can own the glass.
He also brings more than rim-and-rebound utility. Dickinson flashed his touch in Summer League, where he “Hunter Dickinson led the charge for the Pelicans 🔥21 PTS (15 in 2H)3 AST3 3PMNew Orleans completes an 18-point comeback to win in NBA Summer League play!
pic.twitter.com/2Y00MqMmjc” and he shot 39.0% from three across the full G League season in 2025-26. Add in the 3.3 assists per game he averaged, and there’s a real case that he offers a rare mix of size, shooting, and passing.
That’s where the fit gets more intriguing for New York. In a post-Mitchell Robinson world, the Knicks need someone who can bang on the boards.
Dickinson at least gives them that, while also offering a developmental angle under Mike Brown and his staff. There’s also a built-in learning environment with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond in the room.
The catch is obvious: Dickinson is still unproven in the NBA, and he can’t just be penciled in as the answer to the third-center spot. But he does look like a legitimate depth option with a chance to earn that role, and that job matters more than people usually admit when it comes to keeping Towns fresh after a demanding championship run.
The timing could work in the Knicks’ favor, too. The backup center market has been busy this summer, so moving sooner rather than later on Dickinson would make sense.
A two-way deal would keep the commitment minimal, and it wouldn’t stop Leon Rose from adding more size. The Knicks still have three two-way spots to fill, and Rose could use Dickinson in one while bringing in another big to compete in the G League for a promotion.
That setup would also leave room for a more established center on the main roster, since the Knicks still have one more contract at the veteran’s minimum available while staying under the second apron. That’s the cleanest route if they want to sort through multiple options and see who actually fits best as the third-string big.
There are reasons New York might not be all-in on Dickinson, especially since he isn’t a defensive stalwart and posted 0.8 blocks per game in 2025-26. Still, his availability gives the Knicks another name to consider, and it reinforces the idea that the center market could keep delivering new options as preseason unfolds.
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