The New York Knicks already have their power forward and center positions filled. But let’s look at how they can add some depth.
*This is another piece in the free agent series. If you missed any, here is the New York Knicks free agents, point guard free agents, shooting guard free agents, and small forward free agents.*
So you probably saw the title, and you’re thinking to yourself: Alex, you’re going to do a bigs free agency piece after separating the shooting guards and small forwards? Yes. Yes, I am. And there are a few reasons why I decided to combine power forwards and centers in one piece.
For one, the New York Knicks already have their starting and backup power forward in Julius Randle and Obi Toppin. And for those that don’t remember, the Knicks brought back Taj Gibson because Obi was injured at the beginning of the season, and the Knicks didn’t want to have Randle play so many minutes on a nightly basis.
Two, because the Knicks already have their Second Team All-NBA power forward in Julius Randle, we know that Tom Thibodeau will give him the lion’s share of minutes. And whatever is left will go to Toppin.
Three, as we saw at the beginning of last season, the Knicks rostered two centers — Mitchell Robinson & Nerlens Noel. And since the Knicks just picked up Robinson’s option while waiving Norvel Pelle, that probably means there is only one center spot left. Yes, there is the hope that Noel returns, but that is unlikely. And if you’re thinking about Jericho Sims, he will most likely be in the G League this season.
So, because those positions are either filled or mostly filled, I decided to combine the positions.
Now, this piece was complex because there are many suitable free agents at both positions. And since I combined both positions, this piece is going to run a little differently.
With the power forwards addressed, I gave the top two options for that position. And as for the center, I gave the top three options. But as always, before I get into the leading candidates, here are some honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Taj Gibson: The sage will most likely be back. His veteran presence can’t go unrecognized. Also, he found the fountain of youth and turned back the clocks to be one hell of a player this past season.
Nerlens Noel: We know that Noel is getting interest from around the league after anchoring the Knicks defense. And there is a high probability that he won’t return because he will get paid good money for his outstanding performance this past season.
Montrezl Harrell: Montrez would be a beast coming off the bench behind Randle. However, Harrell has averaged 26.3, 27.8, and 22.9 minutes in the past three seasons (2018-2021). So it’d be tough to sell him on 15 minutes per game (which Toppin got). And even then, it wouldn’t make sense to sign Harrell because the Knicks still have Toppin. But it’s unlikely that Trez comes to the Knicks anyway after being traded to the Washington Wizards.
PJ Tucker: Tucker would bring great defense and a veteran presence to the Knicks. However, it is unlikely that the Bucks let him walk when he played critical minutes because of his defense and versatility.
Daniel Thies: Thies would be an ideal backup center because he’s undersized to be a starter. But most importantly, he plays gritty defense and does all the little things that Gibson gets notoriety for.
New York Knicks’ Top Two Power Forwards
2. Carmelo Anthony
Previous Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 42.1 field goal percentage, 40.9 three-point percentage, & 89 free throw percentage.
As of right now, there are reports that the New York Knicks are interested in having Carmelo Anthony return to Madison Square Garden.
If Melo were to come home, some fans would be doing backflips while others would be giving a side-eye. But, regardless of how you feel about Melo, this would be an excellent addition to the Knicks because he’s a triple threat at the four.
We all know Anthony’s sweet spot is his in-between game. Don’t get me wrong, though. Melo is still effective from shooting beyond the arc and scoring on the block.
Yes, I know. Melo was in the 16th percentile amongst forwards, finishing around the rim even though he finished 53 percent of his shots (granted, it was low volume). But Anthony’s reputation still has enough weight in the league where you can’t let him go one on one in the post. And let’s be real, Melo still draws double teams, which would help create open shots on the perimeter.
But the immense value that Melo could add is his ability to mentor all the young Knicks. Since Melo has played in New York, he could guide the young guns on the dos and don’ts of playing in the Big Apple.
Unfortunately, if the Knicks brought Melo back, the four would be crowded. And to be honest, it would probably be unrealistic that Melo comes back unless New York trades Toppin.
But let’s say Toppin was traded. It should go without saying that Melo wouldn’t start over Randle because of Randle’s spectacular performance last season. But if the Knicks wanted to get creative, they could play Melo at the three for limited minutes while Randle was on the floor, granted he hasn’t played that position in four years.
If the Knicks were to sign Melo to a contract, he’d probably earn around $4 – $6 million annually. He took the vet minimum while in Portland, but because of connection with Leon Rose and the excessive amount of cap space the Knicks hold, they would probably be slightly more generous in how much they pay him. Also, he’s made a lot of money throughout his career, so money isn’t necessarily Melo’s biggest concern.
1. Paul Millsap
Previous Team: Denver Nuggets
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 47.6 field goal percentage, 34.3 three-point percentage, & 72.4 free throw percentage.
Paul Millsap would be another great option as a backup power forward (and some small-ball five). However, after this past season in Denver, he’s demonstrated that he isn’t a starter anymore.
Millsap did begin the season as a starter when Michael Porter Jr. missed games early on. But once the Nuggets traded for Aaron Gordon, Millsap went straight to the bench (he only logged 10 – 15 minutes in the playoffs).
Now don’t get me wrong, Millsap would still provide some floor spacing, decent post presence on offense, and versatility on defense. He’s not the athletic big that we all watched when he was on the Atlanta Hawks or when he first started out in Denver. But he’s a seasoned veteran who knows how to get to his spots and can help anchor a defense.
The problem with signing Millsap is that Gibson wouldn’t return then. So instead, Millsap would replace Taj, meaning that Millsap would come off the bench, use his experience to attack opposing benches, and provide a veteran presence for younger players.
Now, if I were to guess, Millsap would probably command a contract of around $8 million annually for two years. Why? Because he’s 36 years old and close to the end of his career.
New York Knicks’ Top Three Centers
3. Robin Lopez
Previous Team: Washington Wizards
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 63.3 field goal percentage, 27.8 three-point percentage, & 72.3 free throw percentage.
I know Robin Lopez doesn’t necessarily excite the entire fanbase, but he had a quietly good season for the Washington Wizards.
His number, like most centers, won’t be eye-popping. But when watching Lopez play, it’s clear that he plays like a traditional center.
On offense, he can score with his back to the basket, get tip-ins, and pull his defender away from the hoop because of his mid-range. And on defense, Lopez can protect the rim, decently guard the pick and roll, and box out to get rebounds.
Thibodeau may like Lopez because he has a well-rounded game compared to Robinson, Noel, or Pelle. On top of that, he can quarterback the defense too. However, it’s known that Thibodeau loves centers that provide elite rim protection, and that isn’t Lopez.
If the New York Knicks did bring the journeyman center back, his contract would be $8 to $10 million annually on a one or two-year deal.
2. Dwight Howard
Previous Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Free Agent Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 58.7 field goal percentage, 25 three-point percentage, & 57.6 free throw percentage.
I’m sure this name will stir the pot amongst Knicks fans, but Dwight Howard is another traditional center that could help New York.
Just like Lopez, he’s able to play with his back to the basket on offense, box out to grab rebounds, and provide rim protection. However, unlike Lopez, Dwight’s mid-range game is minimal – he only took 55 attempts compared to Lopez’s 223.
But the good thing about Howard is that he’s already used to a limited role. These past two seasons, he averaged 18.9 and 17.3 minutes per game, respectively. And within those minutes, he was pretty effective.
For instance, during the 2019-20 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Howards +/- per 100 possessions with the Lakers was + 6.6 on the court and +1.2 off the court. And with the Philadelphia 76ers, his numbers weren’t positive, but the 76ers were still better with Howard on the court than off – the 76ers were -2.2 when Howard was on the court versus -11.9 when he was off.
Yet, what makes Howard an ideal backup center is that he has the size to bully opponents in the paint (and not get bullied himself).
As we saw last season, Robinson and Noel got bodied around because of their thin frames. And Howard was one of the centers punishing those guys because they’re so slim. So it’d be nice to have a five that could hold their own when there are tougher matchups.
The cost for getting Howard would probably be $3 million to $4 million annually on either a one or two-year contract. Yet as of right now, there are reports that he’s expected to go back to the Lakers, which wouldn’t be surprising.
1. Richaun Holmes
Previous Team: Sacramento Kings
Free Agent Status: Restricted Free Agent
2020-21 Statistical Averages: 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 63.7 field goal percentage, 18.2 three-point percentage, & 79.4 free throw percentage.
When watching Richaun Holmes play, he’s the true definition of a blue collared player. He goes to work, gets dirty, and goes 110 percent throughout the entire game.
Holmes would be the ideal candidate as a center because not only is he tenacious on defense, but he’s so good offensively.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Holmes averaged a 63.7 effective field goal percentage which had him ranked in the 87th percentile amongst bigs. And when looking at his conversion rate around the rim (194/264) and from the mid-range (166/295), it makes a lot of sense.
Now, not only is Holmes an effective offensive player, but he’s also the 11th best player when it comes to screen assists – he averaged 10 screens per game that generated points.
As we know, setting screens is so helpful when running the pick and roll with players that love to attack the basket. And because Holmes is such a scoring threat, him running the pick and roll with either Julius Randle or RJ Barrett could be lethal since both can shoot and attack the rim.
Sadly, the likelihood of getting Holmes is slim because his services are wanted. Recently, it was reported that Holmes was looking to earn a four-year contract in the range of $80 million. Now, that would be pretty steep for a guy that isn’t a starting five, so it’s doubtful he would get that type of contract. But it wouldn’t shock me if the Sacramento Kings made or matched that offer.
Conclusion
As I mentioned earlier, this piece was difficult because there are so many players that could’ve been on this list. Such as:
- Bobby Portis
- JaMychal Green
- Kevon Looney
- Markieff Morris
- Ersan Ilyasova
- Duncan Robinson
- Jeff Green
- Kelly Olynyk
But the truth of the matter is that these positions are essentially filled.
Yes, the Knicks need a backup center in case Robinson goes down with an injury. But the front office wants to evaluate if Robinson to see if he can be the long-term answer at the center.
We’ll see how the Knicks handle these positions in free agency. But the expectation should be that the Knicks address the center position and let Randle and Toppin run at the four.
Let us know who you would want the New York Knicks to sign at power forward or center! Either in the comment section below or in the social media comments section of where this piece is posted!
