Knicks reportedly shopping this veteran big man

Sam Stroup

Knicks reportedly shopping this veteran big man image

The New York Knicks could be looking to upgrade their front court ahead of February's trade deadline.

Forbes NBA insider Evan Sidery reported that the Knicks are looking to trade center Guerschon Yabusele.

"The Knicks are shopping Guerschon Yabusele during trade season for a rotational upgrade," Sidery said. 

Yabusele's averaging 3.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and shooting 41.3% from the field this season. He signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Knicks last offseason after one season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

"After a strong season with the Sixers, Yabusele has been a disappointment in New York. Yabusele’s $5.5 million salary is easily absorbable for teams in need of forward depth."

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He started 43 games last season in place of the injured Joel Embiid. Yabusele averaged 11 points and 5.6 rebounds in 70 games for the Sixers and was considered a strong addition for the Knicks.

But he hasn't seen the same success this season with the Knicks. He's playing less than 10 minutes per game and hasn't found a consistent role in head coach Mike Brown's rotation. 

The Knicks are searching for a veteran center to back up Karl-Anthony Towns. New York has been linked to Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, who was a key part of the Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals in 2023.

New York (24-13) has lost four of its past five games. The Knicks are second in the Eastern Conference, four games behind the Detroit Pistons. They return to action Friday against the Phoenix Suns.

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Staff Writer