NBA Free Agency 2011: Is Samuel Dalembert the Answer for NY Knicks at Center?

As the playoffs wind down, speculation regarding this year's free agent class is beginning to heat up.

The Knicks have had their eye on obtaining a center this offseason since before the Carmelo Anthony trade.  And now it seems that they finally have someone in particular in mind.

Who is that someone?

New York has reportedly made Samuel Dalembert of the Sacramento Kings their top target heading into this Summer.  After months of speculation about the many different centers the Knicks have targeted, fans are finally happy to see that New York has narrowed down its search.

While it may come as a relief to fans that the Knicks have settled on a target in Dalembert, this may only be the beginning of Dalembert's impact on New York.

With the market for centers extremely slim, the Knicks have made the right call by deciding to go after Dalembert.  He has the potential to solve all of New York's problems at the position.

The 29 year old Dalembert will be entering his ninth season in the league.  His experience allows him to make an immediate impact as opposed to the Knicks attempting to draft a big man out of college that may need a few years to develop.

Dalemebert is not incredibly young, but he is still in his prime and has at least three solid years left in him.  Additionally, at 6'11", he provides much needed height to a drastically undersized team.

This season, Dalembert averaged just over eight points, over eight rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 24 minutes per game. These statistics may not scream game-changer, but numbers can be deceiving.

Dalembert's production is guaranteed.

He will get you at least eight and eight every night, and has the potential to put up double-doubles consistently.  His greatest attribute is his defense though.  He is one of the better defenders in the league, making him a commodity the Knicks desperately need.

Dalembert's defensive efforts are similar to that of Jared Jeffries; both are ferocious rebounders and can effectively guard bigger and stronger players.  Like Jeffries, Dalembert's wing span allows him to grab key rebounds—especially on the offensive end—and block shots.

Dalembert's advantage, though, is his offensive ability.  He is not going to give you 30 points a night, but he will put up double-digits consistently, a rarity for Jeffries—to say the least.

Defense is not the sole reason the Knicks are targeting Dalembert.  It is not even the primary one, which may come as a surprise.  Yes, his defense would be invaluable to New York.  His quickness and ability to keep his man in front of him definitely contributes to the Knicks' interest, but there is one other attribute of his they value above all else:

Durability.

Dalembert has missed just two games over the past five seasons—an incredible statistic for a player at his position.  This is exactly what New York needs: a center capable of withstanding the rigors of the position.

Dalembert plays the most physical position in the game.  He has to go up against guys like Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol and Andrew Bynum when he takes the floor.  It is simply amazing that he has stayed as healthy as he has over the past five seasons.

His durability gives the Knicks someone they can rely on night in, night out.  Ronny Turiaf provides a ton of energy for New York, but he is hard-pressed to stay healthy.  Dalembert on the other hand, is just as physical, but his conditioning and knowledge of the game exceeds that of many other NBA centers.

Furthermore, his unique build contributes to his clean bill of health.  He is strong enough to go up against the most physical centers in the league, yet quick enough to defend players like Kevin Garnett.

The greatest impact that Dalembert's durability will have on the Knicks, though, comes in terms of Amar'e Stoudemire.

Stoudemire played the majority of the season at center, and simply suffered a beating every night. While he proved to be able to handle the physical nature of the position, he became a greater health risk at starting center.

At 6'10", Stoudemire is no pushover.  He even gave the Knicks an edge at the position most of the time because he is quicker than any other center in the league.  However, as strong as he is, his body is not built to withstand nightly matchups against players who outweigh him by 30 to 50 pounds.

And this is why Dalembert makes so much sense for the Knicks.

Still in his prime, he is an experienced veteran and great defender who can hold his own on the offensive end.  Most importantly though, he can be Stoudemire's savior.

With Dalembert, the Knicks are able to move Stoudemire back to his natural power forward position—where he feels more comfortable and is more likely to experience even more success, both offensively and defensively.

With Dalembert, the Knicks have a guy they can rely on to relieve the physical burden placed on Stoudemire this past season.

With Dalembert, the Knicks ensure the health of their franchise's backbone and give him the opportunity to play his game at a whole other level.

Take a second to consider the possibilities.  Stoudemire averaged over 25 points and eight rebounds per game this season, playing most of it out of his comfort zone.  Just think about what he can do when he is back in his element—playing his natural position.

The possibilities are endless.

Dalembert may not be the best center on the Knicks' wish list, but he is without a doubt the best fit.

It is near impossible to find a center with his bill of health.

Dalembert is consistent.  He is capable.  And most importantly, he is reliable, which will make those who play around him that much better.

The Knicks know this, which is why they have made him their primary target.

And the rest of New York isn't complaining about this decision. 

Especially Stoudemire.