Latest Mitchell Robinson Buzz Adds to Growing Knicks Uncertainty
Latest Mitchell Robinson Buzz Adds to Growing Knicks Uncertainty
One NBA insider projects that there's about a 51-49 chance that Robinson returns to the Knicks.Scott Davis|
In this story:
New York KnicksThe Knicks spent the entire NBA Draft cutting costs, likely with Mitchell Robinson's contract situation top of mind. He is perhaps the best backup center in the NBA, so re-signing the undeniable difference-maker who’s played a key role in the Knicks’ success would be a top outcome this offseason.
However, there are major question marks here, especially with how much he could command and what role he may be offered elsewhere. The latest buzz on Robinson only adds to the uncertainty.
Mitchell Robinson rumors only increase clouds over Knicks' ultimate outcome
While speaking on ESPN’s “Unsportsmanlike” radio show the morning after the draft, Brian Windhorst addressed the Knicks’ chances of re-signing Robinson. Windhorst said the Knicks have a number they will not go over for the 28-year-old big man.
“He’s a bit of a polarizing player because he’s had some health issues and he hasn’t been able to play starter’s minutes, so do you give him starter money?", Windhorst said. “So, I would say Mitch Robinson is 50/50— I don’t know, maybe 51-49 to come back. But that’s open that he might not be there.”
This comes on the heels of SNY's Ian Begley saying on Wednesday there are "several teams with big-time interest" in the big man. Begley also notes he believes a starting job is on the table from at least one franchise.
The future of Mitchell Robinson as a Knick could be in jeopardy.
— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) June 24, 2026
Ian Begley weighs in on the likelihood of seeing the Blockness Monster back in orange and blue next season. pic.twitter.com/wIBCuFQC3n
Both pieces of intel make the Robinson dilemma truly double-sided. There's not only questions around how aggressively other teams will puruse him, but also how much New York values his services with financial constraints at play.
How much are the Knicks willing to pay Mitchell Robinson?
What is the Knicks’ cut-off number for Robinson? That's the key question and a major unknown.
As mentioned, Robinson just concluded a four-year, $60 million contract. Last season, Robinson made $12.9 million, making him the 27th highest-paid center.
Robinson is one of the more difficult players to put a price on; when he’s healthy, he is highly effective and can outplay many other starting centers. However, Robinson’s injury history limits how many games and minutes he can offer.
The Knicks load-managed Robinson all of last season to keep him healthy for the postseason. Robinson did make it through the playoffs and played well, but still only 4.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.
Robinson’s greatest skill is his offensive rebounding. Last season, Robinson had an offensive rebounding rate of 23.9%, which was almost two percentage points higher than Steven Adams’ previous NBA record.
Coincidentally, Adams may be the best player to compare Robinson to — they are rim-running, paint-bound, defensive centers who grab offensive rebounds at historic rates and also have worrying injury histories. Adams signed a three-year, $39 million extension last summer, giving him an average of $13 million per season.
The NBA mid-level exception this season starts at $15 million per year and can pay a max of $65 million over four years.
On the Knicks-focused “Katz and Shoot” podcast, The Athletic’s Fred Katz and Sam Vecenie both agreed that Robinson could at least command two years of the full mid-level. This would come out to around two years, $30 million.
At the time of this writing, the Knicks are about $18 million under the second apron with nine rostered players, not including Jose Alvarado’s $4.5 million player option for 2026-27 (per The Athletic’s James Edwards). If the Knicks refuse to go over the second apron, that’s five roster spots to fill and only $18 million to do it. It's enough money to bring back Robinson, but at what cost to the rest of the roster?
The Knicks could open up more room still by trading players like Pacôme Dadiet and Tyler Kolek without taking any money back. That would open up an additional $5.2 million. Trading Dadiet’s $2.9 million salary alone, while keeping Kolek and telling Alvarado to test the open market, would give the Knicks about $21 million in room below the second apron.
Perhaps Robinson would give the Knicks something of a hometown discount and return on say, a three-year, $42 million deal. That $14 million average gives him a slight edge on Adams and gives him some long-term security.
If the Knicks could move Dadiet and move on from Alvarado, they could re-sign Robinson to a deal starting at $14 million for next season and have about $6 million in space to re-sign Shamet. That figure seems like it would be on the low end of what Shamet could command, but perhaps a three-year, $18 million deal would entice Shamet to stay.
What’s the Knicks’ cut-off on Robinson? It seems—from afar—that they would be unlikely to go above $15 million per year for him. The Knicks will have to ask themselves if they can find a backup center who could make a similar impact to Robinson but at half the cost.
Of course, the Knicks could bring all of these players back if they’re willing to spend into the second apron. But if the second apron remains a hard no for them, it seems that the bench could see major changes this offseason.
Published 21 hours ago
SCOTT DAVISBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
