Knicks’ Center Depth Tested by Towns’ Foul Trouble

Karl-Anthony Towns opened the Knicks’ championship defense with impressive efficiency, shooting 58% through five games and averaging 21.8 points and 13.8 rebounds before the team’s October 30 matchup in Philadelphia. But foul trouble has continued to interrupt his start, renewing concern about the team’s options behind him at center.

New York added Andre Drummond and James Wiseman after Robinson left for the Boston Celtics. Drummond has shown value at times, while Wiseman has played only 10 minutes across the first five games. In seven minutes against Orlando, he missed all five shots, committed a turnover and collected two rebounds.

Coach Mike Brown gave Wiseman one minute in the first game of a recent back-to-back, then did not use him in the second. Wiseman also sat out against Chicago, while Brown briefly tried OG Anunoby at center. Against Detroit, Wiseman appeared only in the closing minutes of the Knicks’ first win of the season, playing 1:13.

The team has effectively relied on Towns and Drummond as its two centers. Towns went to the locker room holding his wrist during the Chicago game, underscoring the stakes of that thin rotation. Owner James Dolan has said he does not want the Knicks to exceed the second salary-cap apron. Wiseman could get another opportunity, but his limited role leaves the team’s third-center question unresolved.