Could Knicks find frontcourt help in a trade with Clippers?

The Knicks don’t need a blockbuster to improve their chances of repeating. Another dependable big man would be a reasonable place to start.

Whether the Clippers could supply one is worth considering.

That’s the idea floated by Matthew Miranda of Knicks On SI⁠, who identified Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Baba Miller as potential targets to bolster the depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

These are proposed fits. Miranda’s piece does not report trade discussions between the teams or indicate that either player is being shopped.

Still, the basketball argument is fairly straightforward.

The Knicks have Andre Drummond and James Wiseman behind Towns, but another option who can rebound, protect the rim and finish inside would give Mike Brown more flexibility. It would also provide some insurance for nights when Towns encounters foul trouble or misses time.

Niederhauser, 23, is a 6-foot-11 former first-round pick earning less than $3 million this season, with team options for the following two years. His appeal would be doing the work around the basket without requiring touches.

Miller, 22, offers similar size and some shooting potential, although he remains a developmental prospect. The Knicks would be betting on what he could become while determining how much he could help immediately.

The Clippers entered Friday at 1-7, which naturally invites questions about their direction. But a poor start doesn’t automatically mean young, inexpensive players become available. Those are also players a struggling team might prefer to keep.

For the Knicks, the question is price and readiness. Adding another project wouldn’t necessarily solve their immediate concern.

Adding an affordable big who can earn Brown’s trust? That’s worth a conversation.

MORE HOOPS | Available NBA free agents by position⁠