Knicks agree to deal with center Robin Lopez

Guard Arron Afflalo agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Knicks on Thursday. Which is highly likely, seeing as New York was a long shot to lure Jordan to the Big Apple.

The next occurred in broad daylight under the cover of late afternoon, this time with free-agent center Robin Lopez, who last season played for the Portland Trail Blazers. If it’s in that aforementioned $12 million range, that gives the Knicks somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 million left to spend. So, second-tier free agents will have to do for now. He was given a lucrative four-year, $54 million contract to help fill the void in the middle for the Knicks. Lopez makes very little impact on offense, but is a solid rebounding and defending big. This move reeks of desperation.

While the Knicks had their sights set higher this summer, Lopez is a nice addition for a team desperately in need of rim protection. A good defensive number will be negative because the defensive player is guarding the shooter. A healthy season from Anthony, any contribution from 19-year-old rookie Kristaps Porzingis, and the veterans Lopez, Afflalo and Jose Calderon, would step the Knicks up from 17 wins to at least mediocrity.

The report notes Lopez’s connection with New Orleans and new head coach Alvin Gentry. He ranked No. 4 in the National Basteball Association in offensive-rebounding percentage during the 2013 season, and finished No. 10 in the category last season. This transaction “officially” went through when it was said that Jordan had eliminated the Knicks from his list of options.

They met with Lopez Wednesday in Los Angeles. Brewer, though, later agreed to a deal with the Houston Rockets, sources said.

On top of his playing skills, Jordan is just 26 years old right now.

The 6-8 Williams has been a disappointment since Minnesota took him second in the 2011 National Basteball Association Draft. At 24 years old, the upside still exists. Once Jordan commits, Phil Jackson can lock up Lopez.