The New York Knicks need to replace Robin Lopez at center, but spending big money on a big man may not be the optimal route to follow.
The New York Knicks are going to make a move for a center during the summer of 2016. That much is clear as day, as the trade for point guard Derrick Rose required Phil Jackson to deal Robin Lopez, who started at the 5 for the Knicks in 2015-16.
For as intriguing as the high-profile free agents may be at center, the best would be an affordable one.
The primary reasons Knicks fans fell in love with Lopez were his unselfishness and tenacity on the court, and his likability off of it. The primary reason analysts fell in love with Lopez was the balance of value and affordability.
Jackson signed Lopez to a four-year deal worth $54 million, which is looking like pocket change under the rising salary cap.
With Lopez out of the picture, New York must make a move to replace him during the upcoming period of free agency. Many have hypothesized that Jackson will sign one of the big-name free agents, and rationally so.
A case could be made, however, that it’d be more rational for Jackson to do what he did with Lopez: balance value and affordability at the 5.
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