Knicks Looking for Backup Center, They Have Options but a Leader Has Emerged Per NBA Insider

The New York Knicks are likely feeling good about the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season, as they should. Still, the Knicks have some work to do with their roster after losing Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency.

New York has 10 players under contract for the upcoming season, with salaries and allocations totaling $173.1 million. That leaves the Knicks $5 million under the first tax apron, where they are currently hard-capped. However, The Athletic’s Fred Katz believes that the Knicks will amend their trade with Brooklyn for Mikal Bridges, thus creating more wiggle room.

If they execute the Mikal Bridges trade as currently constructed, sending Bojan Bogdanović and draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets for the 27-year-old wing, they will be hard-capped at the first apron, of which they are only $5 million short. Chances are the Knicks will find a way to revise the trade, which is not yet finalized, sending out more money than they take in and thus hard-capping themselves at the second apron, giving the team an extra $11 million of wiggle room.

The Knicks could then use the $5.17 million taxpayer midlevel exception to sign someone. They could bring back their own free agents too.

The Knicks won’t revise the Bridges trade just to avoid a hard cap at the first apron only to swing another trade that hard caps them at the same spot. And remember, any team that brings in more salary than it’s sending out in a trade hard caps itself at the first apron, which New York is pressing up against at the moment.

Maybe the Knicks find a way to negotiate Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe, sneakily one of the league’s best rebounders, into the Bridges trade, though that would require adding on even more salary.

Knicks Looking for Backup Center, They Have Options, but a Leader Has Emerged Per NBA Insider

The Knicks’ biggest need is a backup for center Mitchell Robinson. Robinson is an experienced starter but is injury-prone and has been more effective when coming off the bench.

But right now, Robinson figures to be the starter. Jericho Sims and Mamadi Diakide are also on the roster, though Diakide’s $2.2 million is nonguaranteed. Sims is an adequate backup, but there are better options.

So, who is out there for the Knicks to grab?

If the Knicks could work Day’Ron Sharpe into the Bridges deal, that would be ideal. The Knicks would be adding just around $4 million in salary, though perhaps they could send Diakide or Sims.

Possible Knicks Options

Precious Achiuwa – Free Agent

Precious Achiuwa is an unrestricted free agent as the Knicks declined to extend a qualifying offer ($6.3 million) to the 24-year-old. However, a league source told Katz that “the organization has left open the possibility of bringing him back.” Katz appears to believe it would be a good idea for the 6-8 forward to return, and the Knicks own his Bird rights.

Achiuwa grew into a favorite of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s after arriving from the Toronto Raptors in December. He might not be the conventional shot blocker Thibodeau prefers in the middle of his defense, but the Knicks could send Achiuwa to the perimeter, using him in more switch-happy strategies than they would with their other big men. Thibodeau’s ethos is rim protection, but if the team can’t find a 7-footer to anchor its defense, he’ll deploy other blueprints. Both Achiuwa and Sims will venture out of the paint to guard.

If the Knicks brought back Achiuwa on a modest contract, they could slot the stretchy, 6-foot-8 New Yorker behind Robinson. If Robinson were to miss time, a possibility considering he’s played more than 66 games only once in his six-year career, Thibodeau would have to go small.

Daniel Theis – Free agent

Daniel Theis is a relatively cheap option who is coming off a decent season with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 32-year-old thrives around the rim, though he can also stretch the floor and is a good rebounder on both ends of the court. He averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds (1.4 offense) with 53.6/37.1/76.0% splits in 17 minutes over 60 contests.

According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Theis has drawn interest from several teams, including Memphis, New Orleans, and Milwaukee.

JaVale McGee- Free Agent

JaVale McGee is nearing the end of his career and would probably stay in Sacramento if offered a spot. McGee is a former Knick, but at 36, he doesn’t provide much besides some rebounding and rim protection.

Paul Reed – Philadelphia 76ers

Paul Reed’s $7.7 million contract is a pseudo-expiring deal, as it doesn’t guarantee until Jan 10. The 25-year-old has done a fantastic job backing up Joel Embiid the past few seasons, but the 76ers inked Andre Drummond to a free-agent deal this summer.

According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers will likely waive or trade Reed rather than bring him back. So, unless the Knicks could send out Sims or Diakide along with a couple of second-round picks, it would make more sense that they wait to see if the Sixers waive him.

Clint Capela – Atlanta Hawks

Clint Capela has been rumored to be on the trade market since last summer. The 30-year-old, on an expiring $22.2 million deal, has seen his production drop over the previous three seasons. Katz said the Knicks would have to part with a rotational player with Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, and Bridges.

Verdict: Pass.

Nikola Vucevic – Chicago Bulls

HoopsHype Michael Scotto believes the Bulls might move Nikola Vucevic this summer. Vucevic makes a similar amount as Capela, but he has an extra year on his contract and will cost the Knicks relatively the same price. Vucevic is more offensive-minded than defensive, which Katz said doesn’t fit the Knicks mold.

Verdict: Pass

Robert Williams – Portland Trail Blazers

Portland is loaded with centers after drafting Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 overall pick. Robert Williams, making $12.4 million, would be an intriguing fit for the Knicks, but the 26-year-old has struggled to stay healthy. He only played six games this past season and has not played more than 61 games in his career.

Katz also said the Knicks would need to include either Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, or Robinson in a deal.

Verdict: Pass

Wendell Carter Jr. – Orlando Magic

Wendell Carter would fit with the Knicks, but I’m not sure the Magic would be willing to part with him unless Robinson were included. So, that doesn’t make sense either.

Verdict: Pass

Isaiah Stewart – Detroit Pistons

Isaiah Stewart would be an interesting case study. Stewart, whose four-year, $64 million extension kicks in, plays hard and physical. Stewart has shown improvement but has only played 95 games over the past two seasons. Plus, it will likely take a rotational player to acquire him.

Detroit has said they would be willing to trade Stewart.

Possible Deal: Divincenzo using the NLE ($12,500 exception) for Stewart.

Verdict: Consider

Richaun Holmes, Washington Wizards; Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks; Duop Reath, Portland Trail Blazers; and Jaylin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Richaun Holmes recently signed an extension with Washington, but no. The same answer applies to Dwight Powell. Duop Reath, and Jaylin Williams.

Verdict: Pass

Nick Richards – Charlotte Hornets

Nick Richards is coming off a career season, though the 26-year-old 7-footer has played well in the past two seasons. Richards will make $5.0 million this year and next. Here is what Katz said about a possible trade:

“Sending out more money than they are taking back (while also doing so in the Bridges deal) could require trading Miles McBride, who is too good (and on too team-friendly a contract) to give up for someone like Richards.

McBride was sensational after the Knicks traded Quentin Grimes to Detroit. But totally disagree with Katz here.

Verdict: Definitely consider.

Walker Kessler – Utah Jazz

It is kind of surprising that Utah is taking offers for Walker Kessler. Kessler would be an excellent get for the Knicks as he provides the size they lost in Hartenstein. Kessler’s game is very similar to Hartenstein’s. However, the 22-year-old’s numbers dipped a little last year.

“Kessler has two years remaining on his rookie-scale contract, which pays him $3 million in 2024-25,” said Katz. “The timing would match up well for the Knicks, who could let Robinson, who also has two years until free agency, walk once Kessler commands a raise. The Jazz expressed they were open to moving Kessler leading into the draft, according to rival front-office sources in contact with them. Utah was after a top-10 draft pick in exchange, and it wasn’t clear if even that would be enough to get a deal done.”

“The Knicks could offer McBride and the Pistons’ 2025 first-rounder for Kessler. They could throw in a first-round swap, too. But would that be enough to get the Jazz to bite? After all, it’s not like Utah has to trade Kessler, who has as many as seven more years of team control ahead of him. McBride’s three-year, $13 million contract is a steal, but it’s more attractive to a contender like the Knicks than a group starting over like the Jazz. By the time Utah is competitive again, McBride would be ready to hit unrestricted free agency.”

Verdict: If the Knicks can work out a trade with the Jazz, they should do so.