Mitchell Robinson has put the New York Knicks in a tricky spot-one that’s as much about timing as it is about talent. He’s too valuable to move, yet too unreliable to fully count on. And as the Knicks navigate the trade deadline and look ahead to the offseason, they’re staring down a familiar dilemma: how do you build around a player whose body keeps betraying his potential?
Robinson’s impact when he’s on the floor is hard to ignore. He’s a game-changer on the glass, a shot-altering presence in the paint, and a defensive anchor who can erase mistakes.
But the problem is, he’s not on the floor nearly enough. The league knows this.
Teams are well aware that Robinson is managing a surgically repaired ankle, that he’s not playing both ends of back-to-backs, and that his minutes are being closely monitored-rarely climbing above 25 per game. The harsh reality?
He’s likely to miss 25-plus games a season, every season.
That kind of availability-or lack thereof-makes it tough to project his market value. And it’s why, despite Robinson’s undeniable talent, he might not find a robust bidding war waiting for him in free agency.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out, it’s hard to justify a big offer for a player averaging just 20 minutes a night. Especially when that player comes with a long-term maintenance plan.
That doesn’t mean Robinson won’t have suitors. Teams always need size, rebounding, and rim protection, and Robinson brings all three in spades when healthy.
But expecting an offer north of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception-currently set at $15.1 million-might be wishful thinking. Even getting the full MLE could come with caveats: short-term guarantees, team options, or performance-based incentives.
All of this puts the Knicks in a surprisingly strong position. Not only are they under no pressure to trade Robinson, but they may also be able to re-sign him on a team-friendly deal.
One league agent reportedly believes Robinson is worth his current contract-four years, $60 million, signed in 2022. If the Knicks can bring him back on similar terms, or even slightly less, they could delay crossing into the second tax apron and maintain flexibility for another season.
That’s a big deal in today’s NBA, where the new collective bargaining agreement has made cap management more complex than ever. Avoiding the second apron doesn’t just save money-it preserves options. And in a league where roster-building is as much about optionality as it is about star power, that matters.
Of course, Robinson and his camp will want a raise. Players always do.
But the market might not cooperate. And if the best offer out there is one the Knicks can match-or beat with favorable terms-they’ll have the upper hand.
Worst-case scenario? Robinson gets a modest bump in pay that nudges New York into the second apron, but not so far that they can’t maneuver back out with the right trade. That’s a far cry from the $20-plus million some feared he might command.
At the end of the day, the Knicks still have to wrestle with the same fundamental question: how do you balance Robinson’s undeniable impact with his limited availability? That calculus hasn’t changed.
But what has changed is the leverage. And for once, it might be tilting in New York’s favor.
So as the trade deadline approaches, the Knicks can breathe a little easier. They don’t have to make a panic move with Robinson. In fact, they might not have to make a move at all.