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Knicks Free Agency: 5 best centers available

By Jeffrey Bellone

Mar 10, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell (5) reacts after a foul is called against the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell (5) reacts after a foul is called against the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 15, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes up for a shot against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter in the Western Conference play-in game one at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /

5) Best free agent centers: Hassan Whiteside

Perhaps no player represents the divide between statistics and eye test or reputation than Hassan Whiteside. The numbers are always impressive for the 7-foot big man, but does he help you win basketball games? What is his true value as a 31-year-old center? That is the question teams will try to answer this offseason.

Contract: Whiteside is coming off a four-year, $98 million contract that he signed with the Miami Heat in 2016. He played last season for the Portland Trail-Blazers. The demand for Whiteside could pick up as the market sets a fair price for him: rather than viewing him as a player that is going to suck up more than $20 million in cap space, if he can be had for the mid-level exception amount (between $6-10 million), he becomes an attractive target.

Game: As mentioned, if you want box score stats, Whiteside is your man. He is a perfect fantasy basketball player. But there is always skepticism about what those numbers really mean. However, if you look at his time playing for the Blazers last season, you will find an improved story as the team was 9.2 points better with him on the court versus off, which ranked in the 92nd percentile for point differential.

Fit: The Knicks need a big man who can complement Mitchell Robinson, and Hassan Whiteside isn’t the answer. This one is pretty straight forward. Moving along…

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