Following Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure in free agency, the New York Knicks find themselves short one center in their lineup. A trade for Robert Williams III could be a viable solution, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger mentioned to Fred Katz that the 26-year-old center could be a good fit for New York.
Hollinger noted, “Robert Williams III, who is now with Portland, theoretically meets all the Knicks’ needs. However, they might want to wait and see if he can stay healthy for more than a few games in a row before making a move.”
Williams’ injury history is a significant concern. After being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers last season, he played only six games before undergoing season-ending knee surgery. He also missed a substantial portion of the previous season, raising doubts about his durability.
Despite this, Williams remains a notable player, having been a Defensive Player of the Year finalist two years ago. If he shows strong performance next season, Portland might be open to trade discussions.
However, any potential trade for Williams would likely occur during the season, and the Knicks’ chances of pulling it off are slim. With most of their salary cap tied up in key players like OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle, finding a way to fit Williams’ $12.4 million salary into their budget would be challenging. Trading significant rotation players or multiple bench assets would be necessary, which may not be feasible.
The Knicks are also exploring other center options. Ian Begley of SNY reported on July 18 that the team had looked into a potential deal for Clint Capela, who has been the Atlanta Hawks’ starting center for the past four seasons. Additionally, Marc Berman of the New York Post mentioned that the Knicks are interested in Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets.
Capela averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game last season. Sengun had an impressive year with the Rockets, averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Duren also had strong stats, with 13.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. The Knicks may continue to explore these options as they seek to fill their center position.
