The Knicks are reportedly still searching for backup center depth, with Nick Richards viewed as the most realistic option, while Yves Missi and Mouhamadou Gueye have also been mentioned as potential younger targets.
The New York Knicks are still exploring the backup center market after missing out on Moussa Diabate.
Nick Richards
Position C
Age 28
Height 211 cm
Weight 111 kg
Birth place Kingston, Jamaica
According to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, Nick Richards remains one of the few realistic options for the Knicks as they continue looking for frontcourt depth.
New York recently signed Diabate to an offer sheet, but the Dallas Mavericks quickly matched it, keeping the big man away from the Knicks.
"And so New York, I think they've been a team since losing Mitchell Robinson, we've been talking about finding a backup center for them," Tomer Azarly said on Clutch Scoops. "We know that they're inquiring with a lot of teams, they're trying to find cheap centers to play backup potentially."
Nick Richards seen as realistic Knicks option
Siegel noted that Richards is one of the few available centers who could still make sense for New York.
"I mean, Nick Richards is one of the only options still out there in terms of who they could even sign in free agency," Siegel said.
The Knicks already added Andre Drummond on a minimum deal, but the team appears to still be searching for another big man to help cover the minutes left behind by Robinson's departure.
"They brought in Andre Drummond on good value, they brought him in on a minimum contract, so he should be able to fill a lot of those Mitchell Robinson minutes," Siegel said.
Richards, 28, played 48 games in the 2025-26 season for the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls, averaging 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 14.6 minutes per game. He shot 51.2% from the field.
Credit AP - Scanpix
Knicks have looked at younger center options
New York's interest has not been limited to free agency.
Siegel also mentioned that the Knicks have looked at younger big men on rookie-type contracts, including Mouhamadou Gueye from the Charlotte Hornets and Yves Missi from the New Orleans Pelicans.
"The whole idea of bringing in Diabate was to get a guy who's athletic, young, that they could maybe get on a small contract and look to build up into their system," Siegel said.
"That's why they've had interest in Mouhamadou Gueye from the Hornets, they've had interest in Yves Missi from the New Orleans Pelicans," he added.
According to Siegel, the Knicks have tried to land Missi multiple times, including around the trade deadline when they were working on the Jose Alvarado deal.
"They tried to trade for him multiple times, even dating back to the trade deadline when they were getting Jose Alvarado from them," Siegel said. "They tried to make that a package deal where they would get both, and the Pelicans weren't about it."
Knicks could move Pacome Dadiet
The Knicks may also be willing to move a young player to create the right kind of roster flexibility.
Siegel said New York has shown interest in moving Pacome Dadiet's contract if it helps the team land a big man on a rookie-like deal.
"We have heard whispers dating from Summer League that they are interested in looking to move Pacome Dadiet's contract if that helps them get one of these guys on a rookie-like deal, whether it's Yves Missi or Mouhamadou Gueye," Siegel said.
Still, Richards appears to be the most realistic name on the board at this stage.
"But I do think that Nick Richards is really the only real possibility for the Knicks at this point," Siegel said.
Credit John Jones-Imagn Images
CAA connection could help Knicks
One factor that could make Richards a logical fit is his agency connection.
Richards is represented by CAA, an agency with strong ties to the Knicks' front office.
Siegel pointed to that connection while comparing New York's CAA ties to the previous "Klutch Sports Lakers" era.
"He is a CAA client, which makes a lot of sense with the CAA Knicks, kind of like a few years ago it was the Klutch Sports Lakers, now it's the CAA Sports Knicks," Siegel said.
"But I think that Nick Richards would be a solid second-string, third-string center for them to pursue."
With the Knicks trying to stay financially flexible and close to their hard-cap limit, the backup center spot remains one of their final roster needs.
"So, we'll see what Leon Rose and the Knicks can cook up," Siegel said. "They're a team that always looks to get right to the dollar in terms of their hard cap, so I would expect them to have something brewing there."
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