The New York Knicks appear to be on the market for another big man to bolster their center of the court, which is the one position on the team where they truly need depth. NBA expert Kris Pursiainen claims that Omer Yurtseven, a former center for the Miami Heat and Utah Jazz, is being courted by New York.
Pursiainen said on X, “Omer Yurtseven, a former center for the Heat and Jazz, is reportedly of interest to the Knicks.” According to Sports DNA, Yurtseven is being watched by both the basketball team Panathinaikos and New York, who hope to partner him with Mathias Lessort.
Yurtseven, 26, played his first two seasons with the Miami Heat after entering the NBA as an undrafted free agency out of Georgetown in 2021. He played in just 65 games throughout his first two NBA seasons, averaging just 12.1 minutes per game, and failed to get regular playing time. In 2022, he suffered a major ankle injury that necessitated surgery.
He joined with the Utah Jazz heading into the previous campaign, but he was once more unable to find a reliable outlet, averaging just 4.8 points in 11.4 minutes per game over 48 games. The Turkish big man progressively improved his stats in 12 games as a starter for the Jazz, averaging 8.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 51% shooting from the floor. In spite of this, Utah waived him earlier in the summer.
He would be a cheap addition that may be a good backup for the Knicks, so they could gain from having him. At six feet eleven inches, he would provide New York with much-needed extra size in the second unit, since their tallest bench player right now, Precious Achiuwa, stands six feet eight inches.
Although Yurtseven hasn’t shown much in the NBA, head coach Tom Thibodeau is renowned for bringing out the best in underappreciated players, such as Isaiah Hartenstein. As a result, there’s no reason to doubt that he can develop to his full potential in a more defined role.
Although there is currently no sign of a contract between the Knicks and Yurtseven, with training camp quickly approaching, New York may sign another big man to complete their roster for the 2024 campaign.
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