The New York Knicks’ frontcourt is more formidable than most.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a standout 7-foot center who can play inside and out and deliver the goods in pivotal late-game moments. Mitchell Robinson is an offensive rebounding extraordinaire when healthy, as his valuable ball-tracking chops allow him to keep possessions alive for New York.
Still, could the Knicks turn to the buyout market to further bolster that unit? Sports Illustrated's Steven Simineri thinks so, citing that a former Golden State Warriors three-time NBA champion big man could be of service to the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals participants.
“After winning three championships during his decade in Golden State, the rugged big man signed with New Orleans (Pelicans) in the offseason,” Simineri wrote Saturday. “He has only played in 17 games and hasn't got into three games since December.”
“The 30-year-old would serve as insurance for Mitchell Robinson and is familiar with Brown, dating to his days as an assistant with the Warriors. He has a team-option for next year, and there's a good chance the moribund Pelicans set him free.”
Looney had a great run with the Warriors at the start of his NBA career. Looney has a similar skill set to Robinson, as the UCLA product is at his best when crashing the glass and doing all the dirty work that often goes unnoticed.
Looney’s ability to play his role in the Bay brilliantly helped the Warriors win three championships from 2016 to 2022. If Looney, who’s averaging 2.7 points and 5.1 rebounds with the Pelicans, hits the buyout market this season, he could be an underrated low-post addition to Mike Brown’s championship-hopeful Eastern Conference squad.
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