​The New York Knicks have had to get inventive this offseason as they attempt to retool their roster in pursuit of a repeat championship bid. Team owner James Dolan has made it clear that the franchise will not push beyond the second apron, and that stance has put GM Leon Rose and his staff in a tricky position when it comes to retaining key free agents. Long-time center Mitchell Robinson has departed, signing with the Boston Celtics as a free agent. Yet Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Mohamed Diawara are all back in New York, offering some continuity.
To replace Robinson, the Knicks turned to veteran center Andre Drummond. He brings similar skill sets to the former backup center, though he isn’t quite at Robinson’s level, which leaves the club with a depth issue at the five. Currently, New York has only two centers on the roster, and they will need a third to round out the bench properly.
When evaluating New York’s options for center depth, CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn floated a potential trade target in Milwaukee Bucks center Kel’El Ware, a name that would be surprising given his recent involvement in the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. Quinn proposed, on X, an aggressive path: “Offer the Bucks a 2032 swap and a 2033 unprotected first for Kel’El Ware.” He added that Ware is a “CAA guy,” with two cheap years left on his contract, and that he is ultra-talented enough to be developed into a long-term four once Hart ages out, all while being brought into a winning culture.
Under Rose’s leadership, the Knicks’ ties to CAA clients are well known, given Rose’s lengthy affiliation with the agency before taking the New York job. Ware would be an intriguing add for the Knicks as a potential long-term answer at power forward, though Quinn’s framing suggests Ware might be better suited to the five spot in the modern NBA. The 15th pick in the 2024 draft, Ware is still developing as a defensive anchor, yet his offensive potential is enticing. The seven-footer showed promise as a floor-spacer, knocking down 39.5 percent of his three-pointers during the 2025-26 season on roughly three attempts per game. If he can translate that outside shot into consistent spacing, Ware could offer Knicks-style floor spacing similar to what Karl-Anthony Towns provides.
Ware’s fit, however, is the bigger question. While he would be an ideal project for depth and potential versatility, it’s hard to envision the Bucks parting with a key building block this early, especially after acquiring more draft capital in the Antetokounmpo trade. Milwaukee has aimed to retool around players like Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Ware is widely viewed as part of their core moving forward. That makes a Ware trade seem unlikely, particularly given the Bucks’ current construction and long-term plans.
New York’s path for improving center depth will likely require looking beyond Ware. The Knicks need a reliable big who can contribute immediately off the bench, help anchor the defense, and provide stretch potential to keep the floor spaced for the team’s guards and wings. Ware’s upside is undeniable, but the cost and the fit with Milwaukee’s plans make a deal improbable, if not near-impossible, in the current market. That reality leaves New York searching for alternative avenues—whether it’s revisiting other veteran centers who can plug into the rotation, seeking out a younger developmental project via a different trade, or exploring under-the-radar free-agent options who can provide depth without price tags that run afoul of the second apron.
In any case, the Knicks’ strategy this summer underscores a broader reality: building a championship-caliber roster in today’s NBA requires balancing cap constraints, asset value, and development timelines. Rose and his staff must navigate these constraints carefully, aiming to add a dependable depth piece at center that complements their existing core without compromising future flexibility. The days of swinging for a blockbuster move are likely behind them; the logo-and-wins model now hinges on finding affordable, productive contributors who can grow within a winning culture and help sustain a championship-level run.