After the Knicks’ mega-deal to land on Tuesday night Mikal Bridges The Nets have more work to do for the club. The center position remains one of New York’s burning questions this season.
Beginner Isaiah Hartenstein is an unrestricted free agent, and as SNY’s Ian Begley has reported, it has become unlikely that the Knicks will be able to keep their center unless Hartenstein chooses to take significantly less money to remain in New York.
Additionally, Mitchell RobinsonAccording to Begley, his name has popped up in trade rumors lately and he could be an option for the Knicks to cut payroll if the unlikely happens and Hartenstein returns with a bigger deal.
The Bridges trade, as currently reported, surpassed the Knicks on the first bill of $178 million. But as Begley reported during the draft, the Knicks could add salary to the trade, which would then give them a hard cap hit on the second platform ($189.5 million). While that would give them some more flexibility, the Knicks would likely focus on limiting spending on the rest of the roster. Having both centers has been a strength of this Knicks roster, but moving on from one of them makes sense, especially after a re-signing OG Anunoby.
Begley called the Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze is one of several at the position the Knicks have on their radar. Bitadze is a young, buy-low option who has shown himself to be an NBA rotation regular.
It’s also worth noting that the Knicks did that Precious Achiuwawho filled in admirably at both the power forward and backup center positions. Achiuwa is a restricted free agent this offseason. New York also has a former second-round pick Jericho Sims on the grid.
Below are three centers the Knicks should consider as backup plans in free agency if they don’t retain Hartenstein or Robinson:
1. Goga Bitadze
A former first-round pick of the Indiana Pacers in 2019, Bitadze’s game has changed since he made his debut. Bitadze should be floor-sized, but after struggling from deep, he has eliminated three-pointers from his shot diet since joining the Magic.
Bitadze kept it simple and lived in the paint on both sides of the field. He used his 6-11, 250-pound frame, hitting 2.7 shots per 36 minutes. Most importantly, Bitadze has embraced contact. Early in his career, Bitadze often failed to connect on screens, but he has made improvements. Bitadze also posted a career-high 17.5 percent rebound rate.
Bitadze has also shown that he is capable of making passes from the high post à la Hartenstein. Last season he averaged 3.0 assists per 36 minutes. If the Knicks are unable to retain Hartenstein, the 24-year-old Bitadze could be an ideal replacement.
2. Andre Drummond
If the Knicks want to go the traditional route, Drummond may be the best choice. The 12-year veteran is one of the best rebounders in the NBA. Drummond could duplicate what Robinson offers on the offensive glass. The Knicks have relied heavily on offensive rebounding as a way to generate offense.
At this stage of his career, Drummond is still a good defender, but he can be prone to mistakes on the floor at times and his scoring efficiency around the basket is below average for a center. But there probably isn’t a free agent on the market who dominates the glass like Drummond.
3. Jalen Smith
In the Tom Thibodeau era, the Knicks have avoided the fifth period. But if the team is looking to add some bench versatility to its lineup, Smith could be an option. The 24-year-old has a $5.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season. If he opts out of his contract, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
At 6-10, Smith can score off the pick-and-roll or by jumping out to the midcourt or three-point line. Although he is only a 33.5 percent three-point shooter, Smith shot 42.4 percent on 144 three-point attempts last season. He has also shown the ability to attack smaller defenders in the post when teams switch.
Defense isn’t Smith’s best strength, which could make for an iffy matchup under Thibodeau. He held his own during the regular season, but noticeably, the playoffs saw Smith lose his place in Indiana’s rotation to Isaiah Jackson.
