Insider Just Dropped MASSIVE UPDATE On Knicks Free Agency Plans... | Knicks News | The Knicks Recap Podcast

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We have a massive update on the Knicks free agency plans for the center position. We're gonna break down all of these latest reports today.
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Update on the Knicks free agency plans. The Knicks lost Mitchell Robinson in free agency. Then they replaced him with Andre Drummond. According to a Knicks executive, Drummond sounds like he'll be the main backup to Carl Anthony Towns off the bench.
Shout out to Keith Smart with Sports Track for giving us this following information. According to him, this is what a Knicks executive had to say on losing Mitchell Robinson. Yeah, it's tough. You want to keep everyone, especially after you accomplish what we did together. But you just can't. We're excited to have Andre Drummond in the mix now. He's as good of a backup center as there is in the league. We'll miss Mitchell Robinson for sure. But all you can do is keep moving forward. Given this information, it looks like the Knicks won a third-string center to fill that 14th roster spot. This is what their current plans are to fill that roster spot. According to the New York Post Jared Swartz, his belief is that the Knicks will simply get the training camp with an open roster spot, and then hand out a bunch of unguaranteed deals and see who fits best then and there. Pretty much the same thing they did last year with Landry Shamit and Malcolm Brogdon. For those not tracking names, Nick Richards, Tony Bradley, Drew Eubanks, they all remain available in free agency at the center position, and potentially the Knicks could add one of those players.
Plans can change of course, but this looks like the direction the Knicks are headed in right now. We just reviewed a few center options, but in my opinion, there are new and even better center options available. Let's review these two new center options, starting with Oscar Tshiebwe.
Shout out to Sports Illustrated for giving us this following information. If the Knicks want to think outside the box for their third center spot, one intriguing low-risk option could be Oscar Tshiebwe. After the Utah Jazz declined to extend him a qualifying offer, Tshiebwe became an unrestricted free agent, making him available for either a two-way contract or a vet minimum deal. The former Kentucky standout has appeared in 49 NBA games, and despite being undersized for a center spot, he's only 6'8 and 255 pounds, he has consistently shown an ability to dominate the glass. During the 2025-2026 season, he split time between the Utah Jazz main team and their G League affiliate, Salt Lake City Stars, averaging 13.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in 29 minutes across 12 G League regular season games. In 27 games at the NBA level with the Utah Jazz, including 6 starts, he averaged 7.8 points and 6.6 rebounds. In just 16.6 minutes per game, Tshiebwe's rebounding numbers are what stand out the most. He posted a 21.6 total rebounding percentage in the NBA despite limited playing time, and he's coming off of one of the greatest rebounding stretches in G League history. During the 2024-2025 season, he set the G League's all-time rebounding record by averaging 19 rebounds per game, while also scoring 17.1 points per contest. He also recorded 16.20-plus rebounding games, including a career high, 30 rebounds against the Wolves. His production continued late in the NBA season as well. Over his final five regular season games with the Jazz, Tshiebwe averaged 14 points, 11.2 rebounds, and shot 62.3% from the field. While Tshiebwe hasn't established himself as a high level NBA player yet, his G League production has been outstanding. If he can develop into the player, many believed he could become, coming out of Kentucky, he could be a worthwhile filler for the Knicks as a developmental third center option on a two-way deal, or even a vet minimum deal.
Tshiebwe's rebounding is why the Knicks should take an interest in him. Because that rebounding, what he did in the G League, breaking records, what he did against the Wolves at the NBA level, that shows you there's something there. And if the Knicks are smart, they will add this man, at least to a two-way contract, or at least invite him to training camp to see what he can do. The next new center option that's available for New York is Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu.
Take a look at his highlights. According to Sports Illustrated once again, another name that has emerged as a potential backup center option for the Knicks is Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu.