The Knicks could end up trading $13 million big man on expiring deal

The New York Knicks face a frontcourt dilemma centered on Mitchell Robinson's future role. Historically viewed as their defensive anchor with elite rim protection and rebounding, Robinson's repeated injuries have eroded confidence in his reliability.

Robinson played only 17 regular-season games last year and struggled to regain form during the playoffs, averaging 5.1 points and 5.9 rebounds despite efficient shooting. His defensive impact remains strong when healthy, but his compromised stamina visibly hindered mobility and team chemistry in postseason play, diminishing his rim protection and leaving defensive gaps.

With the team prioritizing offensive firepower, Karl-Anthony Towns emerges as the likely full-time center solution. Forbes analyst Tom Rende highlighted that lineups featuring Towns exclusively at center yielded the NBA's second-best offensive rating during the first half of last season. The Knicks failed to sustain this approach later in the year, particularly when defensive mismatches arose with Towns guarding non-centers.

New head coach Mike Brown may now commit fully to Towns at center to leverage his offensive versatility. This shift sidelines Robinson, whose $13 million salary next season is considered costly for a bench role. He no longer fits as a starter in a system designed around Towns' spacing and three-level scoring.