The New York Knicks are still looking for center depth after Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure. Internally, Jericho Sims and Ariel Hukporti are the current candidates to be Mitchell Robinson’s backup, but it may not be sufficient. A recent mock trade proposal has the Knicks trading for Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren.
Fan favorite guard could be on the move in the near future
Sean Deveney of Heavy offered a transaction with Miles McBride and draft financing to acquire Duren. The whole exchange is as follows: Pistons get Miles McBride and two first-round picks.
Knicks receive: Jalen Duren
McBride has been dangled in trade talks recently given the Knicks have solid guard depth with Tyler Kolek, and Cameron Payne also on the team’s bench. McBride broke out last season following the departure of Immanuel Quickley in the OG Anunoby deal.
Jalen Duren is one of the best young centers in the NBA
Duren could provide the Knicks with a very solid option at center. The 20-year-old is already one of the league’s best rebounders, and took a nice step forward in his second NBA season in 2024. Duren averaged 13.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game for Detroit last season.
Duren’s activity on the glass at such a young age could be the perfect storm to develop under head coach Tom Thibodeau, who has helped transform many centers’ careers in his tenure with the Knicks.
Knicks traded for Duren’s draft rights in 2022
The Knicks have some familiarity with Duren. On draft night in 2022, his draft rights were traded to the Knicks from the Charlotte Hornets. The Knicks then traded his rights to the Pistons. Now, two years later, the Knicks could once again be in play for his services.
Duren could be a formidable option for a Knicks team in need of big-man depth. New York will continue to look at all of their options ahead of next season, as they aim to maximize their roster for a competitive 2024-2025 season.
