Free Agent Profile: Joel Przybilla

Przybilla is the third profile of the not unlikely, but not terribly likely the Knicks will pick up this free agent list. Przybilla made $7.4 million last season.

Center
Played last season with the Charlotte Bobcats.
7'1'' 245lbs Age 32. Career averages of 4.0 PPG and 6.3 RPG. (1.8/4)

If you can get past the inexplicable placement of the Z before the Y in his last name, Przybilla provides the most talent upside of anyone on the list. However, he is also the player most likely to demand more money on this list. Przybilla received over $7 million and last season and is not on his last legs. Despite his injury history, Przybilla has continuously had teams coveting his services. In fact, the Knicks tried to make an in-season trade for him last year. Unless he has a strong yearning to play in New York, I don't see why Przybilla would take a pay cut to come play for the Bockers. Especially, since he has openly stated that he wants to play for Milwaukee where his family resides. Then again, after being traded to the Bobcats midseason last year, Przybilla started 0 of the 9 games he was in Charlotte. The Knicks would be able to promise Przybilla significant playing time and this could appeal to a player trying to reestablish himself as a contributor in the NBA.

In any event, assuming we are able to get Przybilla to lower his asking price, the Knicks will get a big body with a decent offensive glass game. He does not bang on the boards like the previous two players profiled, but Przybilla has a strong reputation as a player who just flat out gets boards and blocks when he gets an opportunity to get on the court. In particular, his 7'1'' frame will provide much needed intimidation in the post area, circa the Marcus Camby days, to compensate for the poor team perimeter defense.

The big knock on him is that he is just coming off his second knee surgery and does not have the same athleticism he once had. This could be a gift or a curse for the Knicks. The gift side would be that his diminished upside will make him lower his asking price, allowing the Knicks to acquire him without sacrificing their long term goals. The curse side could be that he is so far gone from his productive days that he cannot even handle the limited role of cleaning up the boards and passing to Melo that will be required of him in a Knicks uniform. Overall, the likelihood of signing Przybilla is entirely dependent on other teams desire to sign him. If their is any sort of competition on that front, upping his asking price, the Knicks will pass on him and move on to one of their other options (limited as they may be).

Player most likely to be waived for him to replace: Jerome Jordan.