An October 3 report tied four centers — Wiseman, Bradley, Drummond and Towns — to one open rotation spot, and nobody has been named the starter. New York plays its preseason opener at the 76ers on October 5, the first chance to see that question get answered on the floor instead of in headlines.
Center Still Unsettled
An October 3 report from Stefan Bondy grouped Wiseman, Bradley, Drummond and Towns under one line: center. Four bodies, one spot, and the Knicks have not said who starts it. Towns can play small minutes up front, but somebody holds the middle when he doesn't, and camp has not settled who that is.
Tipoff Is One Day Away
New York opens its exhibition slate at the 76ers on October 5, then hosts the Wizards on October 8 and the Timberwolves on October 12 before closing the preseason at Toronto on October 13. The games count for nothing, but the center rotation will start getting real answers on the floor instead of in headlines. The regular-season opener is set for October 20 against Philadelphia, back at the Garden.
Eubanks Still Day-To-Day
Drew Eubanks remains day-to-day with a left thumb and arm issue, with an estimated return of October 5 — fitting, since that's the opener at Philadelphia. Mohamed Diawara, who had been day-to-day, was cleared on October 3, one fewer name on the injury line heading into camp's final week.
Money Still Stuck
The front office is carrying $227.7 million in payroll, well above the $200.4 million luxury line, and extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns have not moved since Media Day. Miles McBride's own contract conversation is just as stalled, tucked into the same rumor cycle as Towns and Randle. Neither deal has a deadline attached yet, but the clock on both is running.
Bottom Line
The Knicks have four centers and no hierarchy, a stalled extension for their best big man, and a preseason game at Philadelphia that will start answering questions words have not. That's the state of this team with sixteen days left before it matters for real.
Who starts at center for the Knicks this season?
It is not settled. An October 3 report grouped James Wiseman, Tony Bradley, Andre Drummond and Karl-Anthony Towns together as options, with no starter named yet.
When do the Knicks play their first preseason game?
October 5, on the road at the 76ers. It is the first of four preseason games before the regular-season opener on October 20 at the Garden.
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