The New York Knicks could be facing a potential dilemma involving the franchise's longest-tenured active player, Mitchell Robinson. The former second-round pick is set to hit unrestricted free agency next season, and there was some belief at the trade deadline that the Knicks would look to deal the 23-year-old. According to the NY Post, the general consensus around the league is that Robinson will leave the Knicks in free agency, with their source claiming Robinson's relationship with the Knicks isn't currently “on firm ground.”
Knicks president Leon Rose opted against offloading Robinson at the deadline, putting the Knicks at risk of losing him for nothing during the offseason. It's not as if there weren't teams interested in trading for Robinson, too. The NY Post reported as many as four teams had expressed interest in acquiring Robinson, including the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, as well as a pair of unnamed organizations.
The Bulls were keen on Robinson as a suitable defensive backup to Nikola Vucevic, however, their advances to the Knicks were reportedly rebuffed. The Knicks did express interest in Detroit's Isaiah Stewart, though the Pistons made clear that the elite rebounding big man was off the table.
This season, Robinson 8.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game across 25.2 minutes per night. The 8.6 rebounds per game are a career-best for the 23-year-old, who is also shooting at a career-high 76.8% from the field.
The Knicks could offer Robinson a five-year, $55 million contract extension, but it remains to be seen if the former Western Kentucky product would be interested in re-upping in New York, especially amid reports that he's not fully content with the franchise.
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