Mitchell Robinson is making Knicks’ most painful decision even difficult to process
New York Knicks heart Mitchell Robinson is headed towards a interval of unrestricted free company that may go a good distance towards defining the franchise’s future. Robinson is possible to be among the many most coveted facilities on the open market, with defensive prowess and unmatched offensive rebounding numbers which can be sure to attraction to a big selection of entrance workplaces.
That might suggest that the Knicks don’t have any possibility however to attempt to re-sign Robinson, however an in depth harm historical past has difficult the matter. His robust postseason has solely made it extra complicated.
Robinson is within the closing season of a four-year, $60 million contract that made him top-of-the-line discount gamers within the NBA. He’s thrived when wholesome, with 2022-23 and 2025-26 seasons that displayed simply how dynamic he will be as a two-way power of nature.
Unfortunately, these seasons additionally booked 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns throughout which Robinson appeared in 31 and 17 video games respectively.
Compounded by the truth that he performed 59 video games in 2022-23 and 60 in 2025-26, the danger in re-signing Robinson is unavoidable. New York is projected to be simply over $3.5 million away from the primary apron getting into free company and has areas wherein it wants to enhance its roster.
With the honest threat of going into the second apron by re-signing Robinson and addressing the opposite roster points, the Knicks have a easy but puzzling query to reply: Is it value it?
Mitchell Robinson: To re-sign or not to re-sign?
Robinson was glorious in 2025-26. He averaged 5.7 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 offensive boards, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals in simply 19.6 minutes per recreation. Those numbers translate to absurd marks of 5.7 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 offensive boards, 1.2 blocks, and 0.9 steals per 36 minutes.
Robinson ranked No. 1 within the NBA in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes and proved past a shadow of a doubt that he can torment opposing groups when wholesome.
That’s continued into the playoffs. Robinson is taking part in pretty restricted minutes at 14.8 per recreation, however stepped up with 13 factors in Game 2 and tallied an important six factors, eight rebounds, and 5 offensive boards throughout a pivotal Game 4 win.
It was one more instance of how Robinson could make the Knicks a greater crew when he is obtainable—and the way necessary it is to have him within the rotation.
The unlucky actuality, nonetheless, is that the Knicks already have significant money tied up in different core members. In 2026-27, New York will owe $191,724,154 to Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart alone.
For as heartbreaking as it could be, that is sadly positioned the Knicks to have to give critical consideration to parting methods with Robinson.
