The Knicks’ search for center help has a pretty clear priority right now: finding someone who can back up Karl-Anthony Towns and give the frontcourt a different look. Free agency does not offer much, but the trade market does, and there are a few teams with big men who could actually be moved.
This is not about chasing a name for the sake of it. New York needs a player who can step ahead of Andre Drummond, either because he brings more mobility on defense, can handle minutes next to Towns, or both. With that in mind, three teams stand out as realistic trade partners.
Charlotte is one place to start, and Moussa Diabate is the obvious target. His rebounding and defensive mobility make him look like a clean Mitchell Robinson replacement, and he could fit nicely with Jalen Brunson in pick-and-roll actions. He is in the final year of his contract, and a deal built around Deuce McBride and draft compensation could be enough to get Charlotte’s attention.
But Diabate is not the only Hornets big worth watching. Ryan Kalkbrenner, the 7’1” rookie who carved out a real role last season, may be facing a smaller slice of the rotation in Year 2 with Naz Reid and Hannes Steinbach also in the mix.
Kalkbrenner is less agile than Diabate, but he blocks shots, rebounds, finishes around the rim and hits free throws well enough to stay on the floor. His contract is also a major plus, with team control through 2028-29 at less than 2 percent of the salary cap.
Portland is another team with multiple names that should at least get the Knicks on the phone. Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III are off the table, but Micah Potter is not.
The 6’10” big is undersized, yet he just posted his best defensive rebounding season while in Indiana and, more importantly, he can stretch the floor. He hit more than 42 percent of his threes last year on nearly seven attempts per 36 minutes, and his salary sits at under $3 million.
He is also the kind of player New York could consider using alongside Towns.
There is another Portland center in the mix too: Yang Hansen. His future there is not exactly settled, since he is no higher than third on the depth chart.
Hansen is still more of a bet on what he might become than what he is right now, but the upside is real. He is a polished passer, shows touch inside, and is willing to take threes.
The defensive fit next to Towns would be a question, but the offensive skill and a $4.6 million salary make him worth considering.
Sacramento may be the most intriguing stop of all. Dylan Cardwell should be on the Knicks’ radar immediately, if he is not already.
He covers more ground defensively than Drummond and rates better as a rim protector. The rebounding numbers jump off the page, too: last season, only five players matched his combination of 7.4 defensive rebounds and 5.9 offensive rebounds per 75 possessions while playing at least 907 minutes.
Like Kalkbrenner, he is under team control through 2028-29 at less than 2 percent of the cap.
If Sacramento is not as directionless as it looks, Maxime Raynaud would also deserve a look. The idea of the Kings moving on from a 7’1” combo big who just made All-Rookie Second Team sounds far-fetched, but their frontcourt is crowded with Cardwell, Domantas Sabonis, Precious Achiuwa and Ben Simmons.
Raynaud’s defense has question marks and he shot under 33 percent from three last season, but he also hit 38 percent of his arc triples and showed real touch around the basket. He is owed under $4.7 million combined over the next two seasons, which only adds to the appeal.
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Cam Whitmore is one of the more intriguing names in that lane after being waived by Cleveland, and he would fit the profile of a low-risk swing on a young talent with upside. He has already logged three NBA seasons, but consistency has remained the question, which is exactly why a Knicks staff that has shown interest in finding value where other teams have moved on could have a decision to make. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger issue for New York may be that patience can come with a cost. Delaying talks keeps the Knicks flexible, but it also leaves notable decisions unresolved while the organization has already seen assistant coach Jordan Brink depart for the Bulls and did not retain Gersson Rosas after his contract expired. For a team trying to stay steady around the edges, the next few weeks could say a lot about how aggressively it wants to lock in its future. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Showed How Desperate They Are To Fill One Spot
Ben Simmons is headed to Sacramento, where he landed a one-year, $3.5 million contract and a clearer path into camp than the Knicks were offering. New York had chased him for the second straight offseason, but the terms on the table told the story of where the team stood: the Kings came with a fully guaranteed deal, while the Knicks were trying to use a more tentative training camp route as they sort through the roster after a championship run and a wave of departures.
For the Knicks, the miss is another reminder that filling out the back end of the roster is now a real priority, not a luxury. They are still looking for players who can stick through camp and give the staff some options, but the Simmons pursuit showed how far they were willing to go and, just as important, how much they still need to settle before opening night arrives. [Read more 🡒]