Knicks Next Big Man on the Rise

Depth has evolved from being a weakness for the New York Knicks to one of their biggest strengths. The Knicks are well supported at each position, and with Mike Brown being known for running a deep lineup, it's fair to assume that one of the backups will have a standout year. While there's no lack of talent at each position, if there is going to be a breakout star, it's going to be one of the bigs. The two players you should be willing to hedge your bets on are Guerschon Yabusele and Ariel Hukporti. 

Both Yabusele and Hukporti will have the opportunity to prove themselves since they will be needed in the Knicks' lineup. The main starting Mitchell Robinson has a history of being injury-prone, and the fact that he won't be available for the Knicks' season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers isn't a great sign. If Robinson is out for an extended period of time, then Yabusele and Hukporti will have to pick up the slack. Yabusele and Hukporti have the potential to fit well with Karl-Anthony Towns, a crucial attribute to fit into the offense as a big man. 

If Mitch goes out with an injury, Mike Brown could just slide Hukporti in as the starting center next to KAT. This allows the Knicks to keep the defensive versatility of running a double big lineup and hide KAT from being the primary interior defender. Before Hukporti got injured, he was slowly proving himself and getting more minutes. The opportunities given to him by former head coach, Tom Thibodeau, who showed his athleticism as a rim protector. While his offensive game needs improvement, playing next to KAT would alleviate his offensive responsibilities since KAT's play style drags opposing rim protectors, giving Hukporti easy shots at the rim. 

Instead of sliding Hukporti in at the five, the Knicks could move KAT to the five and play Yabusele at the four. This lineup would maximize KAT's offense, as he plays best when he can take advantage of slower defenders. While this means KAT would get exposed as a weak defender, having Yabusele at the four the help KAT would improve the defense. This would be similar to what OG Anunoby did last season. While Yabusele isn't as dominant a defender as OG, his size and strength could make up for what he lacks in defensive skill.