The Knicks’ search for help at center keeps circling back to Nick Richards, but the longer this drags on, the clearer it becomes why a deal still hasn’t happened.
On paper, the fit makes sense. Richards is the best affordable big man left in free agency, and New York has shown interest in him before.
The team has a clear opening in its center room, and Richards has the kind of production that would normally make him an obvious target. Still, there are a handful of reasons this partnership may never get over the line.
Money is the first one. Richards just finished the last season of a three-year extension that paid him $5 million annually, or $15 million total, so he already has proof that he can land well above the minimum.
That matters here, because the Knicks are limited by second apron concerns and can essentially only offer a minimum-level deal. Given that setup, Richards has every reason to believe he can do better.
He also has some recent numbers working in his favor. His 2025-26 season was rough overall, with 5.8 points per game, his lowest scoring average since 2021-22.
But he closed the year strongly after getting dealt to the Bulls, putting up 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game. Production like that is part of why he got paid before, and it gives him room to push for more now.
The market for backup centers has also been active, which only strengthens his hand. Mitchell Robinson got three years and $47 million.
Quinten Post landed three years and $26 million after just two seasons. Jock Landale received $14 million for one year in Atlanta, and the Jazz gave Jusuf Nurkic a two-year, $22 million deal.
With those contracts on the board, Richards has no reason to rush into a bargain.
He could also wait and see whether injuries open up better opportunities once training camps get going. If another team loses a big man, Richards could end up being the top center still available and cash in then.
The Knicks’ own situation makes the fit a little awkward, too. Several teams are now lining up players for non-guaranteed training camp looks, and with more veterans signed than there are roster spots, some of those players are going to be cut without any money owed. That kind of market can change quickly, and it makes a minimum deal less appealing if Richards believes he can land something sturdier.
There’s also the question of role. New York already has Andre Drummond as its main backup, which would leave Richards in a third-string spot.
That doesn’t offer much room to rebuild value, and it may not be the kind of opportunity he wants. Even with the championship spotlight in New York, a team that can offer more minutes may look better to him.
And even if Richards were open to the money and the role, the Knicks may still have reservations of their own. He has carried defensive questions throughout his six-year career, with his physicality and instincts drawing criticism and his impact on that end remaining limited. He brings athleticism and offense, but he is not a clean fit without caveats.
There are other concerns, too. Richards has never played in the playoffs, which makes it fair to wonder how he would fit on a roster built to defend a title. He has also been traded in each of the past two seasons, a detail that naturally raises questions about how much value other teams have seen in him.
That’s why New York may be better off waiting. If the Knicks sign Richards now, they lock themselves into their center answer and lose the chance to upgrade later. If they hold off through the preseason, they could take advantage of cuts and trades as other teams trim down their rosters.
With only 13 players currently signed, the Knicks would be ready to move quickly if someone becomes available. Charles Bassey, Charles Koloko and Micah Potter are among the names who could be cut or traded during the preseason, and teams like the Pelicans, Clippers and Hornets have crowded frontcourts that could eventually make a big man available.
That leaves New York with a real choice: settle now with Richards, or keep the door open for someone with more upside or a better fit to surface later. For now, that uncertainty is a big part of why the obvious move still hasn’t happened.
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