The Knicks still have work to do at center, and August has only sharpened the picture.
New York enters the month with just 13 players signed for next season and none of its two-way spots used, even though the roster clearly needs another big behind Andre Drummond and in support of Karl-Anthony Towns. The front office has been active across the league, but the search has not produced a signing or trade yet.
Early free-agent buzz centered on Nick Richards and Kevon Looney. New York had previously been linked to Richards, while Looney’s connection to Mike Brown made him a natural fit.
Looney is now with the Lakers, which removed one possible option from the board. The Richards trail has gone quiet, too, suggesting Leon Rose may have shifted his thinking.
The Knicks’ more aggressive swings tell an even bigger story. They were turned away multiple times in their pursuit of a Yves Missi trade with the Pelicans, according to Chris Haynes.
Their offer sheet for Mavericks restricted free agent Moussa Cissé was matched. New York is also monitoring the Hornets’ Moussa Diabate.
That list matters because it points to the kind of center the Knicks are chasing. Missi, Cissé and Diabate are young players with upside, not stopgap veterans. If New York lands one of that group, it would be aiming for more than a short-term fix - it would be looking for someone who could eventually become the next Mitchell Robinson in the backup role for years.
The easy move would be to sign a veteran and move on. Mason Plumlee would fit that lane. The Knicks have not gone that route, and that restraint suggests they may still be angling for something bigger before camp.
There are still trade possibilities out there. Charlotte has Ryan Kalkbrenner, who put up 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds as a rookie last season, and he could become available if the Hornets decide Diabate and promising No. 14 pick Hannes Steinbach give them enough depth. New Orleans is another club to watch, with Karlo Matković behind Missi and more frontcourt pieces than it can realistically keep.
The Clippers could also be in play after adding another center in Johni Broome. Their recent first-round pick, Yanic Konan Niederhäuser, would be a worthwhile flyer if Los Angeles is willing to part with a big.
Milwaukee offers another name, though probably the most ambitious one: Kel'El Ware. The Bucks just brought him in as a key piece of the Giannis deal, so he may be off-limits. Still, Jericho Sims is on that roster too, and he should be easier to pry loose from a team that could use more draft assets.
The free-agent market, meanwhile, is thin. Richards is the top available name, but the Knicks’ lack of movement there makes it seem like they are not eager to commit yet.
His defensive questions may be part of the hesitation. He could still be a camp option if he’s still on the board, but for now he looks more like a fallback than a priority.
Beyond Richards, the veteran group includes Kevin Love, Kelly Olynyk, Dwight Powell, Bismack Biyombo and Plumlee. Those names are on the radar, but they read more like emergency options than the answer New York wants.
The Knicks can also add help through any of their three two-way spots. Liam Robbins, who stood out in Summer League, is a straightforward candidate.
Drew Timme is another possibility and brings more experience, with 36 games across two seasons. He averaged 12.1 points and 2.7 rebounds for the Nets in nine appearances during the 2024-25 season.
New York could even wait all the way through preseason without adding another center to the standard roster. That would leave the door open for roster-cut season, when more intriguing names might surface.
One player worth tracking is Christian Koloko. He fits the profile the Knicks seem to want: a young rebounder and shot-blocker with upside. He is set to join the Pelicans on a non-guaranteed camp invite, and with New Orleans already carrying plenty of bigs, he could be available soon.
Portland is another team to monitor. The Blazers just signed Jeremy Sochan, but he’s on a camp invite, and the Knicks may be more interested later in the preseason if he gets cut and a bigger target never comes available. Portland also appears to be testing Micah Potter, and New York should be ready to pounce if he doesn’t fit there.
In Other News...
Knicks Still Have A Center Need As Nick Richards Questions Grow
The Knicks still have a clear opening behind the top of their center rotation, and Nick Richards keeps coming up as the most logical name to fill it. The free agent has been on the radar as the team looks to settle its unsigned third-string center spot, but the silence has lingered long enough to make the situation feel more complicated than a simple depth move. The market for backup bigs has also shifted, giving players at that end of the roster more leverage than they used to have.
Part of the hold-up could be money, part of it could be role. Richards may be aiming above a minimum type of deal, while New York has reason to be careful about fit and defensive concerns. With Andre Drummond already lined up as the primary backup, the Knicks do not have an obvious path to sell Richards on a bigger opportunity, and that leaves the sides waiting to see whether the value gap can be closed before the roster picture changes. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Patience At Center Could Open A Surprising Roster Opportunity
The Knicks are still looking for center depth, and Micah Potter has become a name worth keeping on the radar. After being released by the Pacers and claimed off waivers by Portland, Potter landed with a team that already has extra competition at the back end of the roster, which makes his status worth watching closely from New Yorks perspective.
Potters strong 2025-26 season in Indiana gave him a better profile than a typical waiver pickup, and the Knicks could benefit if his situation in Portland turns quickly. For now, they are simply monitoring whether he becomes available again, but the appeal is obvious for a team that would like another option in the middle without forcing a move too soon. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A Huge Karl-Anthony Towns Decision This Summer
Karl-Anthony Towns has quickly become a central figure in the Knicks recent rise, but his future in New York is now headed for a major financial crossroads. He is eligible for an extension this summer, and the decision comes with plenty of weight for a team trying to balance present-day success with long-term flexibility.
The front office has not yet settled on whether to commit to a max-level deal, and that uncertainty is already drawing attention given how much Towns means to the roster. He is set to make $57 million next season and carries a player option for the year after, so the Knicks have time on their side - but not much margin for error if they want to keep him locked in for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]