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One way or another, the New York Knicks are getting a new center.
Robin Lopez has committed to signing a free-agent deal with the Knicks, barring an unexpected decision by DeAndre Jordan to do the same, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Jordan, evidently, is the team's first choice, and the sides sat down together Thursday. Though he hasn't given them a hard no, he's long been considered a near-lock to either re-up with the Los Angeles Clippers or sign with the Dallas Mavericks. After his meeting with the Clippers (his last one of free agency) Thursday night, Jordan was reportedly torn between the two sides, and tabling a final decision until Friday at the earliest.
Lopez would be a solid consolation prize for the Knicks, and the fact that he's apparently willing to sit idly by while they wait on their preferred target is incredibly fortunate for them. He's not the most exciting player in the world, but he works hard and excels at the little things, which is something the Knicks could badly use. (Though coming off a franchise-worst 17-65 season, there are few things they couldn't badly use.)
The two sides were most recently reported to be in talks on a contract that would pay Lopez between $12 million and $13 million per season.
