With Mitchell Robinson out and Ariel Hukporti also gone, the Knicks suddenly have a real hole at center. Karl-Anthony Towns is the only true big man left on the roster, and with James Dolan’s mandate to stay below the second apron, the front office can’t afford to sit around and wait for the market to sort itself out.
That’s why the free-agent center pool matters so much right now. The names aren’t perfect, and none of them replaces Robinson cleanly. But if New York wants to preserve some version of the rim protection, rebounding, and physicality it’s leaned on, there are a few realistic paths.
Kevon Looney still looks like one of the most plausible answers. He’s not the same kind of athlete Robinson is, and he won’t give the Knicks the same lob threat.
What he does bring is stability as a backup center, plus a passing touch that could fit neatly into Mike Brown’s system. Looney averaged four assists per 36 minutes in two of his last three seasons, and that connective play is a real selling point.
He also posted a 62.5% contested offensive rebounding percentage last season, while averaging 5.6 offensive rebounds and 1.2 blockers per 36 minutes. Those numbers don’t match Robinson’s impact, but they help explain why he remains on New York’s radar.
There are also reasons Looney could be available at a bargain. The Pelicans are looking to shed salary and stay young, so a return there doesn’t seem likely.
That opens the door for the Knicks to potentially sell him on a minimum deal, a shot at a ring, and the chance to play for a former assistant coach. The concern, though, is obvious: mobility and health.
Andre Drummond is another name that should be in the mix, especially now that Philadelphia has signed Hukporti Wednesday morning. Drummond can be maddening, and Knicks fans already saw the rough edges in the postseason.
His defense can fall apart when he’s forced to switch or play drop coverage. But if the conversation is about replacing Robinson’s biggest single strength, Drummond makes a strong case.
Even at this stage of his career, he’s still one of the league’s best offensive rebounders. He posted a 72% contested offensive rebounding percentage, just a shade below Robinson’s, and ranked third in the league in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. Robinson is the better rebounder overall and a far better defender, but Drummond may be the cleanest way for New York to keep offensive rebounding at the center of its identity.
Nick Richards brings a different kind of possibility. He has some offensive touch and a softer finish than most of the available centers, which gives him at least a little upside on that end.
But the drawbacks are hard to ignore. He’s not a strong defender, he struggles with quick decisions, and he doesn’t offer much in terms of connective play.
Physicality is also an issue, and that matters for a Knicks team that has made that part of its calling card.
Still, the interest has apparently been there for a while. With the pool shrinking, New York may decide to take a chance on the former first-round pick and see whether he can grow into a tougher rebounder and a more reliable defender.
Mike Brown’s work with Towns offers at least some reason for optimism, and Richards would likely get plenty of attention as the primary backup. Being in a championship environment alongside Towns and Jalen Brunson could also help him take a step forward.
In Other News...
Knicks Just Made A Surprising Ariel Hukporti Decision
Ariel Hukportis first season as a regular part of the Knicks frontcourt rotation gave New York some usable minutes across 54 games, but it did not turn him into a long-term certainty. The rookie big man finished the 2025-26 season with modest production, and his role faded enough that the Knicks now seem comfortable exploring other ways to fill out the center spot behind Karl-Anthony Towns.
Hukporti is now staring at an uncertain stretch of free agency, with his future in New York far from settled. Even so, the door is not necessarily closed if the market does not develop for him, and the Knicks could circle back if he remains available at a price that makes sense. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Added Another Worry To Their Shaky Center Picture
The Knicks center picture got a little cloudier this week as the front office continued sorting through a tricky offseason with the salary cap looming over every move. Mitchell Robinsons future is already uncertain, and the team has been working to keep its roster flexible while deciding how to cover the middle behind him.
Ariel Hukporti is now part of that equation only in the broadest sense, with New York looking at other ways to fill the position and veteran names such as Kevon Looney and Jock Landale surfacing as possible options. It leaves the Knicks with another decision to make at a spot where they cant really afford much uncertainty, and the next move will say plenty about how they plan to balance need, cost and continuity. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Sent A Clear Message About Jack Kayils Future
The Knicks added two more young pieces in the 2026 NBA Draft, taking guard Jack Kayil at No. 39 and Tyler Nickel at No. 47, but the bigger takeaway for Kayil is about patience. New York also locked up Landry Shamet on a four-year contract, a move that fit the rosters present needs and hinted at how the front office likes to stagger development with immediate contribution.
Kayils path appears to be a longer one, with the Knicks envisioning him gaining experience overseas before any possible run with the NBA roster. And if the late-season playoff adjustments around Shamet are any guide, New York seems to see a future in which Kayil fills a similar kind of backcourt role, leaving the specifics of how quickly he gets there as the part still to watch. [Read more 🡒]