The Knicks did not plan to be shopping for a third center this summer, but the salary cap forced their hand.
After winning the 2026 NBA Championship, New York watched Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti leave in free agency, then turned to Andre Drummond to help stabilize the middle. Governor James Dolan made the financial picture plain on WFAN shortly after the title run, saying the team would treat the salary cap’s second apron as a hard cap. That decision limited the Knicks’ ability to go after Robinson and Hukporti, and it also appears to be part of the reason Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride still don’t have new contracts with the team.
For most of the offseason, the Knicks were down to just two centers. Eventually, Tony Bradley, Drew Eubanks, and James Wiseman were brought in to compete for one roster spot.
New York technically had room for two players, but could only fit one veteran-minimum deal while staying under the second apron. Wiseman won that battle, which means his summer ended very differently than it looked like it would at first.
Before that turn, the expectation was overseas. NBA agent Miško Ražnatović - who represents more than 200 players worldwide, including Nikola Jokić and Ivica Zubac - posted on Twitter that Wiseman would be continuing his career abroad. That path made sense given the limited NBA buzz around the center, whose resume had been slowed by injuries and whose biggest selling point at the league level remained his former status as the No. 2 overall pick.
Now Wiseman is in the mix for a defending champion trying to get back to the top of the mountain. The Knicks want to become the first repeat NBA title-winners in nine years and win four more playoff series in the 2027 postseason.
But they also know how thin the margin is at center. They are one injury - or one bad stretch of foul trouble from a pair of big men - away from needing help from someone much deeper on the depth chart.
That reality showed up immediately on opening night against the 76ers. Just over three minutes into the game, Towns picked up his second foul, and Mike Brown had to turn to Drummond. That move kicked off a lively Knicks debut for Drummond at Madison Square Garden.
The offseason reporting had already pointed to New York being comfortable with Towns and Drummond as the top two options at center. That didn’t mean the Knicks were shutting the door on an in-season move, and they still have the ability to improve the position on the trade market during the 2026-27 regular season.
The challenge is what comes next. Leon Rose’s front office does not have a pile of draft picks to lean on, and if McBride becomes the piece they have to move because they can’t extend him, that may be one of the few routes left. Otherwise, the Knicks may have to keep searching for center help with very limited tools.
In Other News...
Knicks Opener Put One Early Rotation Battle In The Spotlight
The Knicks season opener against Philadelphia did more than leave them with an early loss. It also offered a first look at how the back end of the rotation might shake out, and one of the clearest questions coming out of the night centered on Miles McBride. After an uneven offensive showing and a reduced workload, his role is already worth watching as the staff sorts through how many minutes are actually available behind the main pieces.
There are a few other roster wrinkles worth keeping in mind, too. James Wiseman did not play, but the current state of the backup center spot could still create an opening for him if the Knicks decide they need another look there, while Tyler Koleks path to a larger role looks crowded after veteran Jose Alvarado held up well. It is still early, of course, but the opener gave New York a reminder that some of its most interesting decisions this fall may not involve the headline names at all. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Young Core Just Got A Timely Boost From A Familiar Name
Dink Pates path back into the pro game turned quickly after the 2025 NBA Draft left him undrafted and initially headed to Providence College to preserve his NCAA eligibility. Once he was ruled ineligible for college basketball, he landed with the Knicks G-League affiliate on an Exhibit 10 contract, giving New York a familiar young name back in the organization and another developmental piece to track.
For a team trying to build a deeper young core while working around limited draft assets and roster pressure, the move carries some real value. The Knicks have been looking for every chance to add talent to the pipeline, and Pates return gives them a player they already know well enough to slot into that broader development plan. [Read more 🡒]
Andre Drummond Buzz Is Giving Heat Fans Plenty To Talk About
Andre Drummonds season opener against his former team gave the Knicks a familiar reminder of what he can still do on the glass. He finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, a solid showing in a game that naturally carried a little extra edge for both sides given his past in New York.
After the game, though, the chatter moved well beyond the box score. A social media account sparked plenty of reaction by alleging Drummond is dating fitness influencer Sophia Zeilstra, and the post quickly caught fire among fans. There has been no verified or public confirmation of that relationship, but the rumor has already become part of the conversation around a night that was supposed to be about basketball. [Read more 🡒]