The New York Knicks still have some moves to make in the offseason, especially when it comes to finding a backup center.
Following the free agency departure of Isaiah Hartenstein, the Knicks only have two centers with any NBA experience on the roster: Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims.
Robinson is an excellent player when healthy, but unfortunately, he frequently misses time with injuries — he's played over 60 games in a season just once in his career.
Sims, meanwhile, has been up and down limited minutes over two seasons in the NBA.
With limited centers left on the market, it means the Knicks must either hope an available free agent can provide serviceable minutes, or they must search the trade landscape. At the moment, it seems that re-signing Precious Achiuwa might be the Knicks' best route.
ESPN's Chris Herring (who authored "Blood in the Garden" about the 1990s Knicks) named one free agent who might fit the Knicks — center Paul Reed.
"The 25-year-old big man, whom the Philadelphia 76ers waived to make space to sign [Caleb] Martin, would fit seamlessly on the Knicks ... Reed played in all 82 regular-season games for the Sixers last season, and he is almost equally relentless on the boards, having finished ninth in the league in offensive rebounding percentage among those who played in at least 60 contests this past season."
It's a surprising suggestion for a few reasons.
First, Reed is not a significantly better rebounder than Achiuwa. Last season, Reed averaged 11 rebounds per-36 minutes and had an offensive rebounding percentage (ORB) of 13.2% and total rebounding percentage (TRB) of 16.9%.
Achiuwa averaged 10.8 rebounds per-36 minutes and had an ORB of 13% and TRB of 16.7%.
Last season, Achiuwa allowed opponents to shoot just 47.7% while Reed allowed opponents to shoot 50.7%. And Reed is not significantly bigger — listed at 6-foot-9, 210 lb to Achiuwa's 6-foot-8, 243 lb — where Reed's size might make a bigger impact defensively.
Additionally, the Knicks got an up-close look at Reed in the playoffs and couldn't have come away impressed. In the Knicks' first-round series victory over the 76ers, Reed was a -44 in 43 minutes played over six games. In a series that was decided by one total point, it's fair to say the Knicks won the series because of Reed's minutes. Joel Embiid was a +46 in 248 minutes across that series.
Of course, players sometimes have bad playoff series, and it's possible that Reed could be available at a cheaper price than Achiuwa. But knowing how Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau values being able to trust players, if the price is close, Achiuwa seems like a better candidate for the backup center job.
