Recently released big man may give the Knicks an unexpected backup plan

A Harlem-born big man might provide an answer off the bench.

There’s been a few major consistent themes in the discussions around the New York Knicks this season. Amongst them is their seemingly never-ending search for another big man. More specifically, a non-undersized traditional rim-protecting big man. After losing Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder in free agency, and losing Mitchell Robinson to offseason foot surgery, they spent much of the summer trying to fill in that hole. But here we are in February, nearly seven months removed from Hartenstein’s departure, still looking for another big man. Now, the Knicks traded for their current starting center, Karl-Anthony Towns, and resigned Precious Achiuwa, but they still don’t seem to be fully content with their center depth, as Robinson, Achiuwa, and Jericho Sims have all been rumored to be available.

Walker Kessler, who is rumored to be close to untouchable, Jonas Valanciunas, who seems to have multiple suitors, and many more have come up as names New York is interested in. One player whose name has come up from time to time and is a realistic option is Mo Bamba. Unlike a lot of the rumored centers, Bamba should be easier to acquire, as he was just released from the Jazz earlier today. He doesn’t have the talent or upside that some of the other available players have, but New York could get him without losing anything.

Bamba would give Thibodeau, who is often referred to as the “center whisperer,” another Nerlens Noel-esque project and another body for a New York team that badly needs some depth. Bamba is only averaging 6.8 PPG and 5.4 RPG over his seven-year career, so it’s completely plausible that Bamba just turns into another Jericho Sims-like player who doesn’t offer them too much. But, with teams like the Lakers still in the hunt for a big man, the Knicks may have no choice but to pivot from their primary options and go bargain-hunting.