The New York Knicks are preparing to defend their NBA championship, but an already concerning lack of depth at the center position has become an even bigger issue ahead of the regular season. Veteran center Drew Eubanks has suffered a torn pectoral muscle and is expected to miss an extended period, according to a report from ESPN. The Knicks reportedly plan to waive Eubanks, who had been competing for a reserve center spot during training camp.
The development comes at an unfortunate time for New York, which has spent much of the offseason searching for additional frontcourt depth after losing one of its most important defensive contributors. Eubanks signed an Exhibit 9 contract with the Knicks in September, joining a group of veteran big men competing for an opportunity to make the regular-season roster. The 29-year-old appeared in 42 games for the Sacramento Kings last season, averaging 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 59.6% from the field.
Although he was not expected to play a significant role immediately, Eubanks offered experience and another option behind New York's established centers. His injury now leaves the Knicks with fewer choices as they finalize their roster. The concern surrounding New York's frontcourt began earlier this offseason when Mitchell Robinson departed in free agency and joined the Boston Celtics.
Robinson had developed into an important part of the Knicks' defensive identity, providing rim protection, physicality and offensive rebounding. His departure left a significant void behind starting center Karl-Anthony Towns. New York attempted to address that loss by signing veteran Andre Drummond, who is expected to handle the primary backup responsibilities.
However, the Knicks have continued searching for additional insurance at the position, particularly with the physical demands of an 82-game regular season. During training camp, Brown made it clear that strengthening the center rotation remained a priority. "We're looking for bigs," Brown said.
"We're looking at that [center] position heavily." The Knicks entered camp evaluating Eubanks, former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman and veteran Tony Bradley as potential options for their final roster spots. With Eubanks now reportedly out of the picture, Wiseman and Bradley could receive additional consideration. Wiseman has shown encouraging signs during the preseason, including an 18-point, 10-rebound performance against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.
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