After securing a favorable contract extension with star point guard Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks’ next priority, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, is to find a backup center. Begley noted on SNY’s SportsNite on July 13 that they need someone capable of starting around 30 games next season, given Mitchell Robinson’s injury history.
“They’re looking for a backup center for Mitchell Robinson,” Begley said. “He has a tendency to get injured, so they need someone who can step up. They’ve been staying in touch with Precious Achiuwa, their own free agent, and have also explored trade discussions with some veteran centers who have high salaries.”
Achiuwa, more accustomed to playing power forward, showed promise filling in during the regular season when Robinson and Julius Randle were sidelined. However, standing at 6-foot-8, he may struggle defensively against larger playoff-caliber centers like Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kristaps Porzingis if Robinson is unavailable.
High-Salaried Veteran Centers on the Trade Block
The New York Knicks may consider high-salaried centers like Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks and Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks, who are reportedly available for trade.
Clint Capela, aged 30 and on an expiring $22.3 million contract, has been a consistent performer with averages of 11.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, including a league-leading 4.6 offensive rebounds. He has maintained good health, playing more than 70 games in two of his last three seasons.
Brook Lopez, aged 36, is reportedly on the trade market for a first-round pick, according to reports. He averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game last season. Lopez, standing at 7-foot-1, is known for his rim protection in drop coverages, though he can struggle in switching defenses. He is on an expiring $23 million contract and has been durable, playing at least 78 games in each of the last two seasons.
Both Capela and Lopez are established starting centers for their respective teams, and it remains uncertain if the Knicks have engaged in trade discussions with either player.
2 Young Centers on Knicks’ Radar
According to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype, the Knicks are also considering two young centers.
Scotto reported on July 2 that the Knicks have shown interest in acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz and Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets, as noted previously by Hoopshype.
Nick Richards, standing at 7 feet tall with a wingspan of 7’4″, has shown significant improvement over the past two seasons with the Hornets, culminating in his best NBA season yet. He averaged 8.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in the 2022-23 season, with even better numbers this past season, averaging 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks as a starter in 51 out of 67 games.
Meanwhile, Walker Kessler has emerged as one of the top shot blockers in the league, tied with Lopez as second-best behind Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs, averaging 3.6 blocks per game.
According to reports from Begley, the Jazz have set a high asking price for Kessler, demanding at least one first-round pick in previous trade discussions. Despite teams offering two first-rounders, Utah has declined these offers over the past few weeks.
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