Knicks Are Reaching a Mitchell Robinson Conclusion They Can No Longer Avoid
It is fair to wonder whether Mitchell Robinson will still be with the New York Knicks beyond this season. What is no longer debatable is this: New York cannot afford to trade him right now.
At first glance, that may sound obvious. In reality, it has been anything but.
Robinson is headed for unrestricted free agency and carries a long injury history that forces the Knicks to manage his workload carefully. Combined with Karl-Anthony Towns’ comfort playing center and New York’s lack of mid-sized contracts, Robinson has frequently surfaced as a logical trade candidate.
But logic changes once you watch what actually happens on the court.
Robinson Is Central to the Knicks’ Identity
There are matchups where Robinson is less effective. That does not change the fact that his size, strength, and offensive rebounding sit at the core of how the Knicks win games.
Take New York’s recent comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It does not happen without Robinson’s brief fourth-quarter stint, during which the Knicks grabbed 80 percent of their own misses. That stretch flipped the game.
The Knicks lean heavily on second-chance opportunities, and Robinson drives that advantage. Only six teams generate more offensive rebounds per 100 possessions, and New York’s rebounding rate jumps by 14.6 percentage points when he is on the floor.
Among more than 380 players who have logged at least 150 minutes this season, that swing is the largest in the league.
The payoff is enormous. When the Knicks secure an offensive rebound with Robinson on the court, they post an offensive rating of 143.7, a figure that dwarfs even the league’s best overall offense.
His Defense Still Matters, Even If It Is Not Perfect
Robinson’s defensive impact has been less consistent than in previous seasons, and it does not always jump off the screen. Even so, his presence still alters shots, ends possessions, and allows certain lineup combinations to function.
New York’s two-big looks have performed well overall, and Robinson remains essential to making those units viable. His value is not limited to box scores. It shows up in momentum, spacing, and physicality that no other Knick provides.
Trading Robinson Is a Gamble the Knicks Cannot Take
The nightmare scenario is losing Robinson in free agency for nothing. Trading him without a clear upgrade would be even worse.
Upgrading from Robinson is difficult under any circumstances. Doing so without premium draft assets borders on impossible. The Knicks’ available sweeteners, including second-round picks, are unlikely to move the needle. Every team would share New York’s concerns about Robinson’s health and future contract.
Moving him for a non-big is not realistic either. The failed Guerschon Yabusele experiment has already thinned the frontcourt. Removing Robinson’s minutes without replacing them would leave the Knicks dangerously exposed.
There may be hypothetical deals involving multiple players and financial relief. Even then, the risk of downgrading at the position is real and unacceptable for a team with championship ambitions.
The Only Sensible Path Forward
The Knicks have reached a point where the decision is unavoidable. They must keep Robinson through the trade deadline, ride out the season, and reassess in the offseason.
Losing him for nothing would sting. Losing him now could sink the season.
For a team built on physicality, rebounding, and second chances, Mitchell Robinson remains too important to let go.
