The New York Knicks, despite already adding Andre Drummond in free agency, still need some depth at center.

Mitchell Robinson’s departure to the Eastern Conference rival Boston Celtics leaves a massive hole in the Knicks’ rotation, one that Drummond will do his best to fill.

But even the departure of Ariel Hukporti will have an impact in itself, considering Karl-Anthony Towns’ propensity to commit silly fouls.

Just look at this past year’s Finals. New York regularly had to utilize their third center off the bench.

Right now, the Knicks don’t have a third center on the roster, and it’s the final addition they need to make before this offseason can be considered absolutely complete.

And while their pursuit of New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi seems to have hit a wall, there may be another big man on the Pels who could be what they’re looking for.

Knicks Trade Idea Lands Karlo Matkovic

Sports Illustrated’s Steven Simineri believes the New York Knicks should try to swing a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans for center Karlo Matkovic, who would fit under the second apron with a salary of $2.3 million.

“Matkovic went stretches without seeing any playing time, but he was always ready and efficient when called upon. The Bosnia and Herzegovina native has the versatility to serve as center or power forward. He plays above the rim on both ends and has proved, albeit on a small volume, that he can knock down outside shots,” wrote Simineri.

“Matkovic is a great vertical athlete and uses his strength and nose for the ball to grab contested rebounds. Thanks to his impressive vertical leap, Matkovic could be a real lob threat out of pick and rolls and that’s something the Knicks are lacking without Robinson’s inside presence. On the defensive side, he’s a strong rim protector for his size and can defend multiple positions.”

Matkovic could be exactly what the Knicks are looking for as a third option at center, and an insurance policy behind Drummond.

It’s unclear what the price on Matkovic would be, but with the bevvy of second-round draft picks New York picked up during the 2026 NBA Draft, several of them should be more than enough to get the job done.

Karlo Matkovic’s Fit With the Knicks

What the New York Knicks lacked with their backup centers last year was the ability to stretch the floor, as Towns does for the starting five.

Matkovic could allow the Knicks’ bench unit to not skip a step whenever he happens to be on the floor.

Last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, the former second-round draft pick shot 42.2% from deep, proving himself to be a legitimate floor spacer.

Despite only playing roughly 14 minutes per game, Matkovic averaged 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds, shooting 60.4% from the floor, and recording 1.3 stocks per game.

If the Pelicans make him available in trade talks, he’s a player the Knicks should certainly be interested in, especially if Missi is entirely off the table.

With Towns, Drummond and Matkovic as their three centers, New York should be just fine.

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The Knicks knew this offseason wasn’t going to be easy.

After winning the 2026 NBA championship, keeping their roster together was always going to be a challenge. Now, it’s official. Mitchell Robinson is headed to the Boston Celtics on a three-year, $47.4 million contract, ending a seven-year run in New York that saw him grow from a raw second-round pick into one of the NBA’s premier defensive centers.

Replacing Robinson was never going to be easy.

He wasn’t a player who demanded the spotlight or scored 20 points a night, but his value showed up in countless other ways. Whether it was protecting the rim, grabbing momentum-changing offensive rebounds or doing the dirty work that doesn’t always show up in the box score, Robinson became a fan favorite and a key piece of New York’s championship run.

His departure left one obvious question heading into free agency: Who would replace him?

The Knicks answered that question quickly.

Andre Drummond Gives Knicks Exactly What They Lost

New York has signed veteran center Andre Drummond, giving head coach Mike Brown an experienced backup big who can immediately help fill the void left by Robinson.

While Drummond and Robinson aren’t identical players, their strengths overlap in all the right areas. Drummond remains one of the league’s best rebounders and has built a career around physical defense, interior toughness and controlling the glass.

He’s not expected to replace Robinson pound-for-pounnd, but he doesn’t have to.

With Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby carrying much of the offensive load, the Knicks simply needed someone willing to defend, rebound and embrace a role. Drummond checks every one of those boxes.

It’s also a move that makes sense financially.

New York continues to operate below the NBA’s second tax apron, preserving flexibility while still addressing one of its biggest offseason needs. Rather than making a splash for the sake of making one, Leon Rose once again opted for a veteran who fits the team’s identity without compromising its long-term roster construction.

One Roster Spot Remained — Welcome Back Jordan Clarkson

Even after signing Drummond, the Knicks still had room to make one final move.

Instead of searching outside the organization, they opted for continuity.

New York agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with Jordan Clarkson, bringing back one of the biggest contributors off of last season’s bench.

Clarkson gave the Knicks exactly what every championship team needs: instant offense. Whether he was leading the second unit, knocking down timely three-pointers or creating his own shot late in the shot clock, the veteran guard provided another scoring threat behind Brunson.

Bringing him back also means Mike Brown won’t have to work another new piece into the rotation. Clarkson already knows the system, understands his role and has proven he can deliver in meaningful moments.

For a team trying to defend a championship, familiarity can be just as valuable as making another splash signing.

Run it Back… More or Less

When Mitchell Robinson left for Boston, it looked like the Knicks had a major hole to fill. A few days later, they did exactly what they needed to do.

Leon Rose addressed the team’s biggest need, kept the roster financially flexible by staying below the NBA’s second tax apron and retained one of the bench’s most important contributors.

This isn’t the exact same team that raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Robinson’s departure changes the look of the roster, and replacing everything he brought to the floor won’t be easy.

But the Knicks never needed to reinvent themselves this offseason. They just needed to make the right moves around a championship core. They did that by bringing in Andre Drummond and returning Jordan Clarkson.

Run it back? Not exactly.

Run it back… more or less.

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