Jimmy Butler is on trade watch ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but New York Knicks fans have ears on another trade rumor. Will center Mitchell Robinson suit up for their team again? Yet to appear this season from an injury suffered in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Robinson holds an uncertain roster spot. Fans blame a rushed recovery from other injuries. Others blame Joel Embiid for tugging at Robinson’s injured ankle early in the 2024 Playoffs. Some, however, point the finger at Mitchell Robinson over New York’s need for defensive depth…and he knows it.
Robinson took to X Monday to call out those blaming him for the current New York Knicks situation:
Mitchell Robinson on X:
“It’s so amazing that yall KNOW what happened and still fault me but wonder why I act the way I act all love tho 🫶🏽” pic.twitter.com/IZARsuQLMd
— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) January 6, 2025
The best rebounder in the NBA, Robinson also provides impactful defense any time he touches the court. But various injuries over his six-year Knicks career have left him averaging only 53 games a season. Limited to just 31 regular season appearances in 2023-2024 from a left ankle stress fracture on Dec. 8, Robinson suffered the same injury in Game 1 of the semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.
Whether lamenting over holes in the Knicks’ defense or arguing that Robinson chats too much on social media, everyone seems to have a stance about Mitchell Robinson. The trade rumor mill spins fast at the turn of 2025, and the Knicks have drawn heavy attention toward the injured center.
Knicks in desperate need of defensive support
A healthy Robinson is key for the Knicks; his offensive rebounding was instrumental to New York’s postseason run upon returning to the team in March.
While Big Mitch and Isaiah Hartenstein shared the center role before KAT entered the picture, Karl-Anthony Towns picks up where Robinson lacks in scoring, particularly in free throw percentage. Hello, Hack-a-Robinson. Certifiable grief exists over Robinson’s 51.8% career average, but it’s somewhat overshadowed by his insane vertical timing and existence as a rebound magnet. If Robinson is on the court for the Knicks, he’s making a difference on the ball, and effectively screening and protecting the rim when he’s off-ball.
Trade rumor says NBA Teams are shopping for Robinson
Maybe the Knicks are losing interest in Robinson. The Knicks might seek to add players to the rotation. With a shallow bench and rookies collecting sideline dust, coach Tom Thibodeau must evaluate his starter usage or risk further injuries slowing New York’s momentum.
The potential cost for a big equipped for such a role with the Knicks makes such a trade unlikely, and they would also prefer to keep Robinson to protect the salary cap. Given the collection of promising young Knicks like Tyler Kolek, there’s no sense in wasting a developing roster to fill one hole. As some teams eye Robinson ahead of his return, the Knicks could still strike a deal if the price is right.
SNY’s Ian Begley commented on multiple teams’ questions about Robinson’s health, saying:
Several teams have been inquiring about Robinson’s health. So that tells you that teams would have interest in trading for Robinson if they knew he was going to be healthy. When healthy, Robinson is one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA. The 26-year-old is under contract through next season. So it makes sense that he would have trade strong trade value if healthy.
With a month until the deadline, Mitch should prioritize his return over fans’ ill-pointed fingers and one trade rumor. Provided New York sticks with Robinson, the playoff push will be rolling when his stellar rim protection joins forces with the Knicks’ top-rated offense. Even if it’s for only 30 games.
