After securing their franchise star point guard Jalen Brunson with a team-friendly extension, the New York Knicks are now focused on finding a backup center, as reported by SNY’s Ian Begley.
“Who will they get to back up Mitchell Robinson? Given Robinson’s injury history, they need a backup who can start 30 games next season,” Begley commented on SNY’s SportsNite on July 13. “They’ve been in contact with Precious Achiuwa, their own free agent, and have had casual trade discussions about some high-salaried veteran centers. We’ll keep an eye on that situation.”
Achiuwa, typically a power forward, had a brief successful stint with the Knicks during the regular season when Robinson and Julius Randle were injured. However, at 6-foot-8, Achiuwa is considered undersized to defend against players like Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kristaps Porzingis in the playoffs if Robinson is unavailable.
High-Salaried Veteran Centers on the Trade Block
High-salaried centers currently on the trade block include Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks and Brook Lopez from the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported as early as May 19 that the Hawks were expected to make Capela available for trade.
Capela, 30, is on an expiring $22.3 million contract and averaged 11.5 points and 10.6 rebounds last season, including a league-leading 4.6 offensive rebounds per game. He has played more than 70 games in two of the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, the Bucks are open to trading the 36-year-old Lopez for a first-round pick, according to Gery Woelfel of Woelfelspressbox.com.
The Knicks only have a couple of protected first-round picks available after trading away five firsts, including four unprotected ones, and a pick swap to the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Mikal Bridges.
Last season, Lopez averaged 2.4 blocks per game, ranking second in the league, along with 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. He excels as a rim protector in drop coverages but struggles with switching defense. Lopez, standing at 7-foot-1, is on an expiring $23 million contract and has been durable over the last two seasons, playing at least 78 games each.
Both Capela and Lopez are starting centers for their respective teams, and it is unclear if the Knicks have engaged in trade talks for either player.
2 Young Centers on Knicks’ Radar
According to Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto, the New York Knicks are looking into acquiring two young centers. One of them is Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz, as reported by HoopsHype. The Knicks have also shown interest in Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets, who has shown significant improvement over the last couple of seasons.
Richards, standing at 7 feet tall with a 7’4 wingspan, had a breakout season, averaging 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game as a starter in 51 games last season. Meanwhile, Kessler, known for his shot-blocking prowess, has attracted interest from several teams, including the Knicks, although the Jazz have set a high asking price, reportedly seeking at least one first-round pick in trade discussions.
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