​The Sporting News originally covered the Knicks’ rumored interest in a veteran center who previously drew attention as a Lakers target, a player who has earned a substantial $157 million in his career. The Knicks, after entering the 2026-27 season with Karl-Anthony Towns as their starting center and Andre Drummond as his primary backup, reportedly view Mohamed Diawara as their third option behind Towns and Drummond. This has led to speculation that New York may pursue the Lakers’ former target, a 6-foot-11 veteran center who has played in the league for many seasons.
SNY’s Ian Begley recalled that New York was “interested in Jonas Valanciunas in the 2024 offseason,” a claim he noted the day after Valanciunas was waived by the Denver Nuggets. Begley stated that the Knicks were among the teams that engaged in talks at the time, suggesting that New York could have a meaningful role for Valanciunas if he joined the franchise in free agency. The veteran center, who previously worked with Knicks owner Leon Rose, is among the centers on New York’s radar, especially if he were to choose the Knicks as his landing spot.
Before Kevon Looney’s signing on Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania indicated that the Lakers had shown interest in adding Valanciunas to their roster as a backup to Walker Kessler. With Los Angeles seemingly out of the running, the Knicks could be in prime position to pursue the 34-year-old veteran center, should they decide to chase him aggressively. Valanciunas has career averages of 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as the Nuggets’ second-unit center last season, and he shot an efficient 58.2% from the field across 65 appearances. While he isn’t known for elite athleticism and comes with limitations on both ends of the floor, Valanciunas would bring a veteran presence to New York’s bench and could provide valuable depth in shorter-staffed situations.
In this context, Valanciunas represents a potentially significant, veteran-anchoring option for the Knicks’ second unit. If the team prefers stability and seasoned production off the bench at center, he could offer reliable minutes, physicality, and veteran leadership that could help bridge gaps when Towns or Drummond rests. It remains to be seen whether the Knicks will pursue him aggressively or explore other centers who might better complement their core players and the team’s overall defensive and offensive schemes.
Beyond this narrative, other NBA headlines include news about the Clippers reportedly outbidding the Warriors and Spurs for a 6-foot-8 ex-Lakers sharpshooter, as well as predictions about Spurs’ competition with the Lakers for a high-value contract. There are ongoing conversations about Luka Doncic’s stance on roster moves that the Lakers cannot ignore if they aim to optimize their roster and pursue better search engine visibility and broader attention. For readers following this evolving story, The Sporting News is highlighted as a preferred source, with a note to click here to add it to your preferred sources for updates. The Knicks’ 2026-27 roster plans continue to unfold as the team weighs options at center, weighing veteran experience against potential upside as they build around Towns and Drummond.