Mitchell Robinson is heading to NBA free agency after a very solid start to his career with the New York Knicks.
After being taken with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, he has shown to be one of the best offensive rebounders and shot blockers in the league. He also broke Wilt Chamberlain's record for the highest field-goal percentage in a season when he was just 21 years old.
Now that Robinson is an unrestricted free agent, he has the chance to find a new home. What would the ideal destination look like? Securing a strong payday is a requirement, as he proved himself to be one of the better centers in the league while being paid less than $2 million in each of his first four seasons. He should also look into teams with a vacancy at the center spot as he is deserving of a starting role.
The Knicks would have to work out sign-and-trade deals for some of the best destinations for him. He is drawing interest from teams like the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. Should he want to leave New York, there are plenty of good destinations for him.
*Watch NBA Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
3 best destinations for Knicks' Mitchell Robinson in 2022 NBA free agency
3. New York Knicks
Staying put could be an intriguing option for Robinson. If he believes in what New York is doing, he could re-sign there and continue to be one of the faces of the franchise.
Because the Knicks know how valuable Robinson is, they should be willing to pay him what he's worth in order to retain him. The team is already making progress on a multi-year deal with him. His offensive rebounding and defense are extremely valuable to them and their options at the center spot outside of him are slim.
Robinson has established himself as one of the most important players on the team along with RJ Barrett. Remaining one of the faces of the team in the New York market is a solid option for the 24-year-old.
The Hornets have a massive need at the center spot and an intriguing young team. Robinson would fit in nicely as a player who can make them better now and give them another building block for the future.
The obvious upside to playing with the Hornets is playing with LaMelo Ball. To say he would be the best playmaker Robinson has played with would be a massive understatement. Charlotte is in playoff contention and could finally get over the hump with a better lob threat and defensive presence.
The Hornets would give Robinson a more competitive team with the chance to keep growing. However, Robinson would still be leaving one dysfunctional organization for another one that is still somewhat unstable. They could lose one of their best players, Miles Bridges, during NBA free agency and are coming off of two embarrassing losses in the play-in tournament.
Even with the downsides, the Hornets would be a terrific fit for Robinson.
1. Phoenix Suns
If Robinson wants to win above all else, the Suns are his best bet. Few other contenders have a starting center spot up for grabs and can give Robinson a legitimate shot at winning a championship.
Not only would Robinson get to play with Chris Paul but he would be on a contending team for the first time in his career. Pairing up with Mikal Bridges on defense while taking advantage of the space Paul and Devin Booker give him on defense is a dream scenario.
The Suns work as a trade partner for the Knicks with Deandre Ayton seemingly looking to move on from Phoenix. The teams could swap bigs in a double sign-and-trade. Robinson would remain a starter but would be surrounded by a surefire winner.
The Dallas Mavericks are a solid darkhorse contender to lure Robinson but just traded for Christian Wood and don't have any cap space. They could make that room but would have a lot of bigs to find playing time for. The Suns give Robinson a great chance to win and some strong young stars to play with in the future.
Follow Us
Subscribe