The New York Knicks have altered the NBA dramatically with their trade for Minnesota Timberwolves‘ franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns. The move might be motivated by the fact that existing Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is out for the first few months of the season, with analyst Kris Pursiainen reporting that the team is also looking to move the 26-year-old center.
“The New York Knicks are receiving and taking calls on center Mitchell Robinson, their longest-tenured player. Sources familiar with the situation say the likelihood of a deal is unknown but the team seems to be willing to make another move after the blockbuster add of Karl Towns.”
Robinson was the first Knicks player of the 2000s to receive a rookie-scale extension and is the only player still on the team from their 2021 Playoff appearance. The team has reshaped around him and coach Tom Thibodeau, but it seems Robinson is on the chopping block.
He averaged 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks last season, struggling with major ankle injuries through the regular season and Playoffs. Isaiah Hartenstein stepped up to be a tremendous backup option who took Robinson’s starting spot, but Hartenstein signed with the OKC Thunder this summer, creating the big-man issues that prompted the Knicks to acquire Towns now.
Robinson is a limited offensive player but a very apt defender and a solid pick-and-roll partner for most guards. His availability has been a question his entire Knicks career, so the franchise likely won’t get a big haul for their center. As long as they get another backup and some cap relief, the franchise would gladly move on from Robinson after six years with the franchise.
Potential Destinations For Mitchell Robinson
The one thing we’re seeing amongst contenders in the NBA is competent big-man play. Three of the NBA’s perennial MVP candidates are bigs like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. While Robinson can’t replicate even half of what those superstars provide, he’s the kind of player who would be a solid defensive option in matchups against them and other premier centers around the league.
Multiple contenders should be interested in acquiring Robinson, as long as he isn’t expected to be their primary big man due to his unavailability for the start of the season and general injury issues.
The Los Angeles Lakers would be a great destination, but the team can’t afford to lose any playable assets for Robinson given their own roster injury issues with Jarred Vanderbilt expected to miss time. A potential trade with Gabe Vincent and sophomore guard Jalen Hood-Shcifino could interest the franchise, but giving up picks could be a sore topic in a Robinson deal.
If the Denver Nuggets could find a way to turn Zeke Nnaji into Mitchell Robinson it would be a huge upgrade. Nnaji is a peripheral rotational figure for the Nuggets, with Robinson being a much better backup option for Jokic than the 36-year-old DeAndre Jordan.
Finally, the Sacramento Kings could add a traditional rim-protecting center as backup for Domantas Sabonis. The team’s activity this summer shows they’re willing to improve the team, and using Kevin Huerter to land a potential big-man upgrade can’t be ruled out.
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