Knicks Face Long Odds to Re-Sign Mitchell Robinson Amid Second Apron Concerns
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Center Mitchell Robinson, the New York Knicks’ longest-tenured player, is headed into unrestricted free agency, and multiple reports indicate the club may struggle to keep him.
Owner James Dolan has directed the front office to stay below the NBA’s second tax apron, a stance he reaffirmed just before Tuesday’s NBA Draft, according to SNY’s Ian Begley. That mandate limits how much New York can spend on Robinson, who will turn 28 later this year.
Despite appearing in fewer than 20 minutes per game in each of the past two seasons because of injuries, Robinson’s elite offensive rebounding and rim protection on the defending championship roster have boosted his market value. The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy reports that, given the Knicks’ financial constraints, Robinson’s return is increasingly unlikely.
Begley adds that retaining Robinson would require him to accept a pay cut. With his age and health history in mind, the veteran big man is expected to pursue the most lucrative offer available, and the Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams rumored to hold interest.
New York has already begun trimming payroll. The club convinced guard Jose Alvarado to delay a decision on his player option, traded out of the first round of the 2026 draft, and continues exploring ways to shed additional salary.
Cap analyst Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron notes that even if the Knicks move Pacome Dadiet into another team’s cap space, sign their second-round picks to minimum deals, and have Alvarado opt in, they could start Robinson at only about $9 million next season. Other clubs employing the non-taxpayer mid-level exception could reach roughly $15 million.
Robinson was drafted by the Knicks in 2018 and could still choose to stay on a discounted contract, but with the organization determined to dodge the second apron, signs point to the shot-blocking center departing New York this summer.
Source: Hoops Rumors
