The New York Knicks are still looking to replace Isaiah Hartenstein at center after he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Many of the league’s centers quickly came off the free agency market after Hartenstein signed, as he was the first major move. One center still available is Daniel Theis, who is a free agent after his season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Theis, 32, played 59 games for the Clippers last season, averaging 6.3 points per game. While he had a chance to return to the Clippers, they signed Kai Jones and Mo Bamba instead, closing the door on Theis’s return to Los Angeles.
Could he move to New York instead?
Theis has received interest from both NBA teams and overseas, but he hasn’t made a decision yet. Although the Knicks haven’t been reported to be in talks with Theis, it might be wise for them to reach out to his agent.
Theis was the starting center for the Boston Celtics during their 2019-20 Eastern Conference Finals run, so he’s not far removed from playing a significant role for a top team.
While Theis wouldn’t need to start for the Knicks, he could potentially step into that role. He hasn’t been a consistent starter since the 2021-22 season with the Houston Rockets, but it’s a position he could eventually fill.
Most likely, if Theis joined the Knicks, he would serve as a backup for Mitchell Robinson, who is expected to reclaim his starting spot.
Theis could be a valuable depth piece for the Knicks, offering spacing as a potential 3-point shooter and rim protection on defense.
Although Theis is likely to join a different team since the Knicks haven’t shown interest yet, it’s an option worth considering given their current situation.
