Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

The Knicks Center Conundrum + Contract Value Rankings

July 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Knicks made a run at center Moses Brown, offering him a contract that the Dallas Mavericks quickly matched. The Knicks' interest was not a surprise — Brown fits a very specific type of center the front office has been chasing: a vertical spacer who can catch lobs, rebound, and block shots. As host Gavin Shaw put it, the Knicks have "clearly been exploring various avenues to add a very specific type of center." The problem is that the market for that type of player has shifted dramatically, and the Knicks are now buyers in a seller's market.

The Center Market Has Closed Up

The Knicks' need for a center is well-documented. Mitchell Robinson's health has been unreliable, and while the team has Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, the rotation feels thin. The Knicks have tried to trade for young centers like Yves Missi, and they made a run at Brown. But teams are increasingly hoarding centers. Shaw pointed to a league-wide trend: "Teams are stacking centers and teams seemingly want to have three good options at the center position." The reason is partly the "Victor Wembanyama effect" — teams want fresh bodies to throw at elite big men in the playoffs — and partly a structural change in the NBA's incentive system.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:36) **Intro & Moose Cisse Update** - Gavin explains why the Knicks missed out on center Moose Cisse and what it means for their roster.
  • 2 (07:28) **Why Trading for a Center is So Hard** - A market analysis explaining why the Knicks will struggle to acquire the center they need.
  • 3 (11:42) **Introducing Contract Value Rankings** - Gavin sets up his framework for ranking the best contracts in the NBA by player hierarchy (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 options).
  • 4 (15:52) **Top 10 No. 1 Options: Wembanyama to Mitchell** - Gavin reveals and debates his top 10 list for the most valuable "franchise player" contracts.
  • 5 (27:27) **Contract Value: Six Through Ten** - Gavin finishes the top 10 list, explaining the logic behind the lower half of the rankings.
  • 6 (32:51) **Wrap-Up & What's Next** - Gavin previews the next episode and signs off.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Gavin Shaw

Show Notes

Gavin Schall rolls solo to break down the implications of the Knicks missing out on Moussa Cisse and where Jalen Brunson's contract ranks amongst the Knicks stars. 

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