The Knicks’ search for another center may be headed toward the kind of practical, unglamorous solution front offices love and fans usually hate: patience.
New York has been tied to the idea of adding a third big man for months, and the logic is easy to follow. The team lost Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics this offseason, has an open roster spot, and is heading into its title-defense season in 2026-27 with a clear hole at center depth. So far, though, the available names haven’t exactly forced the issue.
That’s where Nick Richards comes in. The 28-year-old has been the most commonly floated target, and the Knicks have been linked to him going back to last year’s trade deadline.
He’s also the best-fitting free-agent center on the board. But recent rumblings suggest Richards could be headed to South Beach, and if that happens, New York would be left sorting through a much thinner, less appealing market.
If Richards is off the table, the Knicks may actually be better off not forcing a move right away.
At the moment, the roster sits at 14 players, which is the league minimum. That gives New York room to stay put and see how the season develops before deciding on a third center. The idea would be simple: play the first half of the year as constructed, then revisit the position once the buyout market or trade options start to open up.
And there’s reason to believe that approach could pay off. If no impact names emerge now, many of the same unsigned centers could still be sitting there a few months down the road. Free agency doesn’t always clean itself out quickly, and the market for backup bigs can move slowly.
Bismack Biyombo is a good example. He was one of the Knicks’ regularly mentioned options and ended up being signed by the Spurs in early February last season. That kind of timeline is exactly why waiting remains a real possibility for New York.
If Richards truly is headed elsewhere, the Knicks may get nudged into the most sensible decision of all: hold the spot, ride out the early months, and keep their eyes on a better fit later.
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One name in the mix is Julian Reese, whose rebounding profile makes him an appealing non-guaranteed camp option. His game has drawn an Andre Drummond comparison because of how he impacts the glass, and his recent work with Washington only adds to the sense that he could fit New Yorks roster strategy if the team wants a rugged, rebound-first presence tucked behind its main rotation. [Read more 🡒]