The New York Knicks could consider Kevin Love as a low-cost frontcourt option. His rebounding, shooting and experience could give Mike Brown a valuable weapon against Philadelphia.

The New York Knicks do not need another blockbuster move. After winning their first championship in 53 years, the priority is simpler: preserve depth, protect the rotation and add players who can solve specific problems when the postseason becomes matchup-driven.

That is why Kevin Love remains an intriguing name.

New York has already addressed part of its frontcourt need by signing Andre Drummond after Mitchell Robinson left for Boston. Still, the Knicks could benefit from one more big who offers something different, and Love would fit that description better than another traditional center.

At 37, he is no longer a player expected to carry major minutes. But in a limited role, his rebounding, shooting and playoff experience could still have value for a defending champion trying to stay flexible.

Why Kevin Love Still Makes Sense for the Knicks

Love would not replace what Robinson provided defensively. He is not a rim protector, nor would he solve every issue against bigger frontcourts. What he would offer is spacing.

That matters for a Knicks roster built around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

A second-unit lineup featuring Love at power forward or small-ball center could pull opposing big men away from the basket and create cleaner driving lanes for Brunson, Jose Alvarado or Miles McBride. His ability to hit threes also gives Mike Brown another way to punish teams that load the paint.

Love still rebounded efficiently in limited minutes last season and remained dangerous from deep, making him the type of veteran who could contribute without demanding a large role.

For a team trying to avoid unnecessary financial strain, that profile has obvious appeal.

A Different Frontcourt Option for Mike Brown

The biggest reason to consider Love is versatility.

New York has spent much of the offseason looking at more conventional centers, but modern playoff basketball often demands smaller, more mobile lineups. Against Philadelphia in particular, Love could help create offensive mismatches by stretching the floor and forcing defenders into uncomfortable decisions.

His familiarity with LeBron James also adds an unusual wrinkle. Love spent years alongside James in Cleveland and understands how he manipulates defenses, controls tempo and hunts matchups. That knowledge alone would not determine a playoff series, but veteran insight can matter on a team already built to exploit small advantages.

The Knicks do not need Love to become a major piece. They would need him to provide 10 to 15 reliable minutes, rebound, space the floor and stay ready for specific matchups.

That could be enough.

A bench group featuring McBride, Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Mohamed Diawara, Love and Drummond would give Brown a mix of shooting, physicality and experience without dramatically changing the championship core.

For New York, the question is not whether Kevin Love is still a star.

It is whether he can still help a champion win four playoff games in the right series.

If the answer is yes, the Knicks may have found one of the more interesting low-risk options left on the market.

Trey Jemison has signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, ending any chance of a Knicks reunion and leaving New York still searching for additional frontcourt depth.

The New York Knicks have one fewer option to consider as they continue searching for additional frontcourt depth.

Center Trey Jemison III, who spent last season with both the Knicks and the Westchester Knicks, has agreed to a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, closing the door on a potential return to the defending NBA champions.

While Jemison was never expected to become a major part of New York’s rotation, his departure removes a familiar, low-cost option from a team that is still looking to reinforce its center position ahead of the 2026-27 season.

A Familiar Depth Option Is Off the Market

Jemison’s impact during the regular season was limited, but he remained an important member of the organization throughout New York’s championship campaign.

Although his two-way contract prevented him from participating in the playoffs, he stayed with the team during its postseason run and celebrated alongside his teammates after the Knicks captured their first NBA title in 53 years.

His NBA numbers with New York were modest.

In 13 appearances, the 26-year-old averaged 1.0 point and 1.4 rebounds in just over six minutes per game, primarily serving as emergency depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti.

His performances in the G League, however, painted a much more complete picture.

Playing for Westchester, Jemison averaged 8.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks, while shooting nearly 59 percent from the field. His relentless work on the offensive glass and physical interior presence made him one of the team’s most dependable frontcourt players.

Throughout his NBA career, Jemison has earned a reputation as a traditional center who excels through rebounding, screening, rim protection and finishing around the basket rather than offensive versatility.

The Knicks Still Need Another Center Before Opening Night

Jemison’s decision to join Toronto leaves New York with limited proven depth in the middle.

Following Mitchell Robinson’s departure to the Boston Celtics and Ariel Hukporti’s move to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks currently enter training camp with Karl-Anthony Towns and newly signed Andre Drummond as their primary traditional centers.

Drummond brings elite rebounding and valuable veteran experience, but expecting the 32-year-old to shoulder the entire backup-center workload across an 82-game regular season would be unrealistic.

That reality explains why the Knicks continue monitoring the market.

Leon Rose has deliberately maintained roster flexibility throughout the offseason, leaving both a standard roster spot and all three two-way contracts available while evaluating players who may become accessible following training camp cuts or other roster moves around the league.

Jemison would have represented a logical insurance policy because of his familiarity with the organization’s culture and defensive system.

Instead, Toronto offered him a clearer path to development through its remaining two-way position.

For the Knicks, the search simply continues.

Whether the solution comes through free agency, a preseason waiver, a trade or another young developmental prospect, strengthening the center rotation remains one of New York’s final priorities before opening night.

The championship core is still intact.

Now the front office must ensure the supporting cast is deep enough to withstand another long title defense.

Could Kris Murray become a target for the New York Knicks? Memphis’ crowded roster may create an opportunity for the defending NBA champions to add a young two-way forward.

The New York Knicks have made it clear throughout the offseason that they are willing to wait.

Rather than filling every roster spot immediately, Leon Rose has chosen to preserve flexibility, believing that unexpected opportunities will emerge as teams across the NBA finalize their opening-night rosters.

One player who could eventually benefit from that approach is Kris Murray.

The former first-round pick finds himself in an uncertain position with the Memphis Grizzlies, and while no decision has been made regarding his future, New York may have every reason to monitor the situation closely.

Memphis Has a Roster Crunch to Solve

The Grizzlies enter training camp with more players than they can carry into the regular season.

That surplus means difficult decisions are inevitable, and several players currently sit on the edge of the roster bubble.

Murray, who arrived in Memphis as part of the blockbuster trade involving Ja Morant, has yet to establish himself in the Grizzlies’ rotation. With Memphis prioritizing immediate competitiveness while also managing its salary structure, younger players without clearly defined roles could become expendable before opening night.

Reports surrounding the franchise suggest that multiple options remain on the table, including trades, waived contracts and potential buyout negotiations. Murray’s name has consistently appeared among those facing the greatest uncertainty.

Although it is uncommon for a recent first-round selection to become available so early in his career, NBA roster mathematics often forces organizations into uncomfortable decisions.

Why Kris Murray Could Thrive With the Knicks

For the Knicks, Murray represents exactly the type of developmental gamble that could produce long-term value.

There is already a connection between the player and New York.

The draft rights that ultimately became Murray originally belonged to the Knicks before being included in the trade that brought Josh Hart to Madison Square Garden. Ironically, circumstances could now create a second opportunity for both sides.

While Murray has yet to produce consistently at the NBA level, his offensive profile aligns remarkably well with the style Mike Brown wants to emphasize.

A significant percentage of his shot attempts come either at the rim or from the corners—two of the most efficient scoring areas in modern basketball. That shot selection reflects strong decision-making, even if the overall shooting percentages have not yet matched the quality of those opportunities.

Playing within a championship-caliber environment could help unlock more of his potential.

Unlike rebuilding teams where young players often develop under constant pressure, the Knicks could offer Murray a clearly defined role surrounded by experienced veterans such as Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. That stability frequently accelerates player development.

His size, defensive versatility and willingness to embrace a complementary role would also fit naturally into New York’s culture.

The Knicks do not need another high-volume scorer.

They need intelligent role players capable of defending multiple positions, making quick decisions and spacing the floor when opportunities arise. Murray possesses many of those raw tools, even if his production has yet to catch up with his potential.

Whether Memphis ultimately decides to move on remains uncertain.

However, if roster pressures force the Grizzlies to make difficult cuts, Leon Rose could once again find value where other organizations see excess.

Championship teams are often strengthened not only by blockbuster acquisitions, but by identifying overlooked talent before everyone else.

Kris Murray may never become a superstar.

But in the right system, surrounded by the right teammates, he could become exactly the type of low-risk, high-upside addition that helps the Knicks defend their NBA title.