{"id":773506,"date":"2026-06-29T09:18:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/773506\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T09:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:18:15","slug":"report-knicks-celtics-set-to-enter-pelicans-center-sweepstakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/773506\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Knicks, Celtics set to enter Pelicans\u2019 center sweepstakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

With free agency a few hours away, the New York Knicks are seemingly working on contingency plans already, given the inevitable departure<\/a> of their best pending free agent in backup center Mitchell Robinson.<\/p>\n

With the growing league-wide expectation that Robinson will depart in free agency, if only because of the stupid financial restrictions James Dolan has placed on the front office\u2019s operations, the Knicks can\u2019t just sit idle and hope for Ariel Hukporti to make a leap and turn into a beast.<\/p>\n

According to NBA reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer<\/a>, the Knicks are among the teams with interest in Kevon Looney, who is set to hit unrestricted free agency at 6 p.m. ET on June 30.<\/p>\n

Looney has an $8 million team option in his two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, but, according to Chris Haynes<\/a>, the franchise will decline it, effectively making the three-time NBA champion an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n

As is obvious, the report links New York\u2019s pursuit of Looney directly to Robinson\u2019s situation and expected exit, noting that the Knicks\u2019 level of interest in any veteran center will depend on how free agency unfolds for Robinson, even though his departure looks set in stone now. The Celtics, per the same two, are also looking to make Looney their \u201cfirst splash in free agency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dIf Robinson does, in fact, depart New York amid the Knicks\u2019 well-chronicled financial constraints as the dreaded second apron closes in, sources say that the newly crowned champions are expected to try to bring on a veteran center with plenty of playoff experience: Former Warriors big man Kevon Looney.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s believed that Looney is also on Boston\u2019s list of center targets, which is likewise known to feature former Celtics big man Robert Williams III. Yet don\u2019t forget that Knicks coach Mike Brown has a pre-existing relationship with Looney thanks to their time together in Golden State.\u201d \u2014 Marc Stein and Jake Fischer<\/p>\n

Already 30 years old, Looney spent a decade with the Golden State Warriors and won three titles with the Dubs\u2014one of them as the starting center\u2014before joining New Orleans before last season. Too bad for Looney, his role diminished significantly, with the veteran only appearing in 21 regular-season games and missing the playoffs entirely.<\/p>\n

Looney averaged 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds with the Pels last season while logging 14.7 minutes of playing time, but he can easily be considered one of the best backup bigs this free agent cycle as a reliable rebounder and screen-setter with a veteran presence.<\/p>\n

On top of that, there\u2019s a legit connection between Looney and Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who worked with Looney in Golden State during the latter\u2019s time there as an assistant coach.<\/p>\n

We all know by now that the Knicks are unlikely to retain Robinson, largely due to owner James Dolan\u2019s refusal to cross the second apron, and the aftermath of such a decision is already being felt in New York. The franchise traded out of the first round of last week\u2019s draft and avoided adding salary to their books in all sorts of ways. The Knicks have only re-signed Jose Alvarado<\/a> and Mo Diawara<\/a> to manageable, low-money deals, preparing for what\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n

With Mitch on his way out, and as things stand before the start of free agency, the Knicks do not have any depth center signed for the upcoming season. Among their pending free agents, only Ariel Hukporti seems capable of filling one of the bench spots, but it\u2019s a bit of a stretch to trust him to take over Robinson\u2019s sixth-man role, considering what we\u2019ve seen from him up to now.<\/p>\n

In any case, there\u2019s simply no way that, even if New York brings back Huk, they get into next season with a two-man center rotation alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and no third-string backup to use in case of emergency.<\/p>\n

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana<\/a>.<\/p>\n