The New York Knicks have already reshaped their center room with the signings of James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks, and Liam Robbins, but the work may not be finished yet.
With 19 players now under contract for camp and room to carry as many as 21, New York still has flexibility to keep searching for the right mix of depth, experience, and upside. That opens the door for a few more free agents who could fit as third-string options or fill one of the club’s vacant two-way spots.
Kevin Love is the biggest name in the group, and while he’s long past his peak, he still brings value. The 38-year-old averaged 5.8 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game last season, and his track record makes him an easy veteran fit for a team that’s focused on winning now.
He also has a history at center, spending at least half of his time there in three of the last five seasons, according to Basketball-Reference. Beyond the production, Love would bring a championship pedigree from his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and could offer guidance to a locker room chasing another title.
Mason Plumlee is another veteran who makes sense on paper. A season ago with the Phoenix Suns, he averaged 6.1 rebounds per game, and he’s proven over 13 years and eight different teams that he can adapt to different roles and situations. At 7 feet, he has the size and energy to handle spot minutes when Karl-Anthony Towns or Andre Drummond sit, and he’d give the Knicks a reliable body for camp competition at the very least.
Tony Bradley is a less flashy possibility, but he’s been mentioned in connection with New York recently as the team continues to move pieces before camp. His numbers don’t jump off the page - he’s averaged fewer than four rebounds per game in each of the last four seasons he’s played, and his minutes have stayed at 11.0 or below in those years - but that’s also the type of role he’d likely have with the Knicks.
There is some evidence of a bigger impact, too: in 2020-21, he posted 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game. For a player looking for work, a tryout opportunity could be enough to get his foot in the door.
Kelly Olynyk is another name worth watching. He remains one of the more recognizable free agents available, and last season he averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, production that still looks useful off the bench.
New York would not be asking for a major workload, but as a third-string emergency option, Olynyk would bring experience and steadiness. He’s also still trying to win his first ring, which could give him extra motivation if he lands in a contender’s camp.
Duop Reath offers a different kind of appeal. He’s 30, but he didn’t make his NBA debut until 27 and has only played three seasons, so there may still be more to unlock.
As a rookie with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds, and his per-36 numbers were even stronger at 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. Those figures stayed in a similar range over the next two seasons even as his minutes dipped in Portland, and he’s now looking for his next opportunity.
The scoring touch is there, but teams will want to see more from him on the glass and defensively in limited minutes. Still, as a stretch big with some upside, he’s the kind of player a center-needy team can justify taking a closer look at.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Reath is being considered alongside Wiseman, and there’s a path where New York adds both him and another veteran for camp. With most of the rotation already in place, the Knicks appear open to letting a few more big men fight for the remaining spots.
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Knicks Ring Night Comes With An Immediate Reality Check
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Philadelphia will be waiting with a very different look than the one the Knicks might have expected when the schedule came out. The 76ers have reshaped their roster in a major way, and the opener brings an immediate test of how the Knicks handle a contender that added real firepower. For a team trying to savor a title while defending it, there is a thin line between ceremony and reality, and the first game of the season will show how quickly that line can disappear. [Read more 🡒]