Isaiah Hartenstein was as good a reserve center as there was in the league last season but took a big free agent payday to play for another contender in Oklahoma City. That leaves a combination of the feisty but undersized Precious Achiuwa and the athletic but raw Jericho Sims to do the job.

Raise your hand if you’re ready to see Julius Randle logging minutes at center. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau hinted that Randle, a three-time All-Star known primarily for playing the four, could step in as a backup center behind Mitchell Robinson.