As they prepare to embark on their most promising season in some time, the New York Knicks continue to make interior depth the center of attention.
According to a report from a longtime NBA insider Marc SteinThe Knicks have “auditioned” several centers to work on life after Mitchell Robinson, including Omer Yurtseven, a 26-year-old center who recently spent time with the Utah Jazz.
Yurtseven is an active free agent with three NBA seasons under his belt since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State in 2021. He has also logged minutes with the Miami Heat (appearing in eight games during their run to the 2023 NBA Finals) and has averaged 5.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in his NBA trio to date.
In the midst of a turbulent offseason, New York has somewhat neglected the five, especially after star depth player Isaiah Hartenstein left for big money to Oklahoma City. As it stands, Jericho Sims appears to be the best pure backup center on the roster despite his struggles to crack the regular rotation. New York recently re-signed Precious Achiuwa, but the former Toronto Raptor sees himself as more of a power forward than a traditional five.
The fact that a relatively fringe name like Yurtseven seems to be the most notable name the Knicks have tried to find speaks volumes about the lack of interior depth left on the board. The Knicks’ search could well extend into the regular season, as they could well wait out cases like Robert Williams III in Portland. Williams is coming back from injury but could become a coveted depth star by the trade deadline.
With Yurtseven no longer wearing a Knicks jersey, the backup center position will continue to be a hot topic of discussion well into training camp. The Knicks play their first of five preseason games Oct. 6 in Charlotte.
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