The second-seeded New York Knicks not too long ago made a game-changing choice to make the most of star Karl-Anthony Cities as their main pivot and, in flip, slide Mitchell Robinson right down to the second unit.
The outcomes have been fairly profitable, as they’ve gone 7-1 for the reason that official shift was made and boast a degree differential of +12.8 with such a lineup configuration.
Now, although this experiment has clearly accomplished wonders for New York’s on-court assault, particularly within the scoring division, the place they’re averaging 125.4 factors per 100 possessions with Cities at heart, it is also a bit bittersweet, for there’s now a case to be made that Robinson’s time in orange and blue may realistically have an expiration date of February 5, or presumably even sooner.
Knicks may commerce Mitchell Robinson amid profitable KAT experiment
For years, there have been rumblings about how the Knicks may decide to maneuver on from Robinson on account of a bevy of causes — well being points, free-agency competitors, and many others.
With this current surge in on-court manufacturing by the ball membership with Cities now serving as their official beginning 5, the opportunity of the large man being offloaded by way of mid-season commerce now seems to be all of the extra seemingly.
Simply final week, Newsday’s Steve Popper highlighted in an episode of SNY’s The Putback that the Knicks “do not prefer to lose a free agent for nothing,” and that, in the event that they really feel they’re susceptible to seeing a participant departing, “they’re going to make a transfer.”
As issues at the moment stand, the Knicks are certainly one of solely a handful of groups within the league residing within the second-apron, which, with the brand new CBA, severely limits their potential to flesh out their roster with out enduring critical tax penalties.
The one method for them to keep away from such hardships is just to chop down on their payroll.
Robinson’s four-year, $60 million contract is slated to return off the books this summer time, which, consequently, will ship him into the open waters of unrestricted free company.
As issues at the moment stand, the Knicks are projected to be simply $4 million below the second apron for subsequent season, with solely 9 gamers slated to return.
Contemplating he is nonetheless solely 27 years previous and is extensively considered among the best rebounders and rim protectors within the recreation right this moment, even together with his intensive harm historical past, there’s greater than sufficient cause to imagine Robinson will subject contract affords effectively north of no matter New York may scrounge up.
With how efficient they have been with out Mitch as their go-to heart, why would they really feel obligated to retain him on what needs to be presumed to be a starting-player’s wage?
All issues thought of, the shift away from the double-big lineup to KAT being slotted again in as a focus pivot might be argued because the nail within the coffin on Robinson’s long-term future with the Knicks and, assuming Popper’s remarks maintain true in 2025-26, there is a sturdy chance that the large man might be moved at or round February’s commerce deadline.
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