National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: Breaking down the Center Position

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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What should we expect from the New York Knicks centers in the upcoming season? Will Kyle O’Quinn follow a disappointing season with a productive fifth year?

The New York Knicks kicked off the preseason with a loss to the Houston Rockets. Nonetheless, player development holds more significance than the final outcome.

Leading up the team’s regular-season opener, we’ll break down each position. What does each player bring to the roster and what contributions or faults should we expect for the upcoming season?

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Starting with the center position, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, Marshall Plumlee and Willy Hernangomez all fall into this discussion. Kristaps Porzingis will play forward with Noah on the court, he’ll appear on the breakdown for power forwards.

Overview

The 5 in the NBA has changed or vanished for most rosters across the league. The 7’0”, 250-pound center isn’t necessarily a must-have for solid interior defense. As we move toward position-less basketball with more emphasis on player roles, the Knicks have new faces who can protect the rim at center.

The Knicks will deal unknowns with two NBA rookies at the position, who will vie for backup minutes behind two experienced vets.

During the 2015-16 season, New York ranked No. 10 in points allowed but struggled to put points on the board, ranking No. 27 in the league with 98.4 per contest. We know about Noah’s defense, but can he provide enough easy baskets in the paint or with a short-range jump shot.

Unless Porzingis shifts to center in a small-ball lineup, O’Quinn will come off the bench to fill leftover minutes at the 5. Can the fifth-year pro expand his offensive game enough to warrant the opponent’s respect on mid-range shot attempts?

Mar 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) on the bench during the first half against the Miami Heat at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Joakim Noah

Noah missed the first preseason game due to a hamstring injury, but it’s likely a precautionary measure to keep him fresh for the opener on October 25. Expect him to take the court against the defending NBA Champions in front of a crowd that sees the outspoken vet as public enemy No. 1:

Noah immediately brings an authoritative voice into a locker room and emotional leadership on the court and from the bench, as seen on Tuesday. His intangibles closely relate to Tyson Chandler during his tenure with the Knickerbockers. The grizzled eight-year vet becomes the enforcer to forward Carmelo Anthony‘s throne as the team’s best player.

Noah comes to the Knicks with a Defensive Player of the Year Award and two All-Star appearances. However, at 31 years old, can he still defend the basket with tenacity and for how long? Expect him to play 25-30 minutes per game similar to Robin Lopez’s 27.1 minutes last year.

The versatile center’s ability to pass out of the post brings tremendous benefit to a team operating out of the triangle in a half-court offense. Due to his declining field-goal percentages over the past six seasons, Noah’s passing ability could become his best asset on the offensive end.

Kyle O’Quinn

According to New York Post reporter Marc Berman, O’Quinn trimmed weight for the upcoming season with hot yoga. Based on his body composition in the preseason opener, the activity seemed to work wonders on shedding excess pounds. He looked svelte running up and down the court.

The Knicks will push the pace on offense to score easy baskets, which requires good body conditioning to run the floor. O’Quinn doesn’t strike anyone as someone leading a fast break, but he’s at least worked on the basics to improve that facet of his game.

Will O’Quinn become an interior presence or a frontcourt option who can stretch the floor with a jump shot? Over the summer, he worked on his mid-range shooting but didn’t put his efforts on display Tuesday going 1-of-4 from the field with only one attempt behind the arc.

O’Quinn disappointed in many ways on a depleted roster during the previous season. He must add volume to his scoring opportunities and consistency as a rebounder to maintain steady minutes behind Noah.

Spain center Guillermo Hernangomez Geuer (14) dunks over Nigeria defense during the men’s preliminary round in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1.

Guillermo “Willy” Hernangomez

The Philadelphia 76ers drafted Hernangomez as the No. 35 pick in the 2015 draft, but the team traded him to the Knicks as he developed overseas.

The 6’11”, 240-pound center comes into the league as a project. He only played one season with Real Madrid’s senior team in the Spanish ACB League. Hernangomez doesn’t have an extensive sample size to translate his statistics into NBA numbers.

When watching him participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, you can see glimpses of his mid-range shot, which is impressive at his size. He also flashed crafty moves in the post with his back toward the basket and the ability to score easy baskets when cleaning up the glass.

While possessing the size to become a decent interior defender, his tape doesn’t show a willing rim protector. Hernangomez doesn’t pursue blocks, which hurts his ability to swat smaller forwards and guards going full strength toward the hoop.

As Hernangomez spends time with his long-time friend Porzingis and acclimates himself to the NBA game, it’s important for him to work on pick-and-roll defense and become more assertive on the offensive end.

Mar 17, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Duke University Blue Devils center Marshall Plumlee (40) reacts during the second half of a first round game against UNC Wilmington Seahawks during the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Marshall Plumlee

Plumlee started one year at Duke after averaging fewer than 10 minutes per game in the first three years on campus. The Duke product will step into the league as a more refined defensive presence than Hernangomez. During his senior year, he logged four blocks in a game on four occasions. He also carries an NBA-ready body equipped to bang in the paint with the pros.

However, he’ll need fine-tuning on the offensive end. Plumlee doesn’t have a move set to utilize in the paint or several feet away from the basket. Unless a guard penetrates and drops the ball in Plumlee’s lap under the bucket, it’s going to take some time to develop his scoring consistency.

On the bright side, he’s going to give maximum effort and likely carves out a small role toward the end of the season. If Noah misses a few games along the way, the Knicks will need rim protection and defensive rebounding to limit the opponent’s second-chance scoring opportunities.

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