Knicks Let Ariel Hukporti Walk as They Chase Mitchell Robinson Under the Apron

The New York Knicks are making it obvious they’re terrified of the second apron. They traded out of the first round of next year’s draft to dodge the guaranteed cap hit. Now they’re letting a fan favorite third-string center test the market.

According to Vincent Goodwill of ESPN, the Knicks will not extend a qualifying offer to Ariel Hukporti, making him an unrestricted free agent. The offer would have been $2.6 million. Hukporti’s minimum salary for next season is $2.4 million, so the team could still bring him back on a cheaper deal. They’re just not locking in that extra cap space right now.

Every dollar matters under the second apron. That’s where Mitchell Robinson comes in. The Knicks want to keep their backup big man, but keeping him might push them into the apron anyway. Especially after handing Landry Shamet a four-year, $24 million contract. That deal was a head-scratcher to some, but it’s done.

Robinson or bust at center

Right now the Knicks have exactly one center on the roster: Karl-Anthony Towns. That’s it. So betting on Robinson to re-sign feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity. But owner James Dolan reportedly isn’t eager to open the checkbook deeper than he already has. The Knicks have been careful with money all offseason.

Hukporti was the 58th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He’s played 79 career games, averaging about nine minutes a night. Nothing flashy on paper. But he plays with an energy that fans notice. Dude flies around, fights for boards, talks trash. He became a quick fan favorite at Madison Square Garden because of that hustle.

If Robinson prices himself out of New York, Hukporti might have been a cheap fallback option. Now that’s off the table unless the Knicks circle back with a minimum deal after the market settles. But letting him walk without a qualifying offer means they’ve already decided the risk isn’t worth the cap hit.

The Knicks won a championship last season and everyone wants to run it back. That’s the goal. But running it back costs money, and the second apron is a hard ceiling for this front office. They’re willing to lose a piece of the roster to stay under it. That’s the reality.

Hukporti will get looks from other teams. He’s young, cheap, and brings energy. The Knicks might regret this if Robinson goes elsewhere and they’re left with Towns and a bunch of guards playing small-ball center. But for now, they’re making the financially disciplined play.