GREENBURGH, N.Y. –– With Marcus Camby having been shipped out, the Knicks have an opening for a backup center behind Tyson Chandler.
And former Kansas big man Cole Aldrich is one of several bigs trying to fill the spot.
“I know my role right now is to get better wtih these guys and make the team and continue to do what I do good,” the 6-foot-11 Aldrich told SNY.tv Sunday at training camp.
Aldrich was drafted by New Orleans with the 11th pick in 2010 after three seasons at Kansas, where he helped the Jayhawks win the 2008 national championship. The Hornets traded his draft rights to Oklahoma City.
Aldrich has career averages of 2.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 89 games over three seasons.
He is now one of three bigs competing for the backup center spot, along with Josh Powell and Ike Diogu. All three are on non-guaranteed deals.
“Any one of those bigs can make our team based on we have a spot that’s available and based on us being banged up a little bit at the bigs,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. “All three of them, Powell and Ike and Cole, they’re competing for a spot. One of them has a good chance to make it.”
Aldrich played with the second team on Monday as the reserves beat the starters in a scrimmage.
“I like him,” Woodson said. “I mean, he’s a big guy that can defend the post. He’s a little awkward offensively but he makes buckets around the rim. Defensively, we gotta get him up to speed along with the other new guys in terms of what we want to do defensively.”
Aldrich said Chandler and Kenyon Martin have taken him under their wing and tried to show him the ropes.
“Just learning form those guys makes a huge difference,” Aldrich said. “I’m in a new system and new guys, so it’s really good that those guys are doing that for me.”
Chandler likes Aldrich’s “effort.”
“He’s a traditional big,” he said. “Get down there, get post position. Nasty, grab you, do all the dirty stuff. Old-fashioned hook shot. I like what he’s been doing throughout camp.”
Aldrich said he spoke with Kansas coach Bill Self a couple of weeks ago and he said, “Always just work hard and take those baby steps to get better.”
Aldrich played briefly against Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins during pickup games on campus in June and was impressed.
“It was early summer and the coaches hadn’t gotten to him yet,” Aldrich said. “But you see the potential. He’s going to be good. Just to be a No. 1 pick potentially it’s a big deal and they’re going to have a good year this year.”
Facing an uncertain future for the moment, Aldrich hopes he can say the same thing of his time with the Knicks.
“Hotel living right now,” he said. “It’s good. Just getting rest and making sure you’re mentally and physically prepared to come out here each and every day.”
