The New York Knicks have a math problem this offseason. They’re roughly $14 million below the second apron with three roster spots to fill. And Mitchell Robinson, their starting center who gutted through an injury in the playoffs and held his own against Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals, is about to become a free agent.
Robinson said recently he’d be open to negotiating a return to New York, per Yahoo Sports. But the numbers don’t add up unless the Knicks fill out the rest of the roster exclusively with minimum contracts. Even then, it’s tight. And Robinson has drawn interest from other teams, which means he probably won’t be waiting around while the Knicks try to squeeze pennies.
So the front office is looking at options. Two names have surfaced as potential replacements, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel: Nick Richards and Kevon Looney.
The Richards Connection
Richards is represented by Max Saidman of CAA, the same agency that represents Jose Alvarado. That agency has a good working relationship with Knicks president Leon Rose and the front office. More importantly, Richards is only expected to get minimum contract offers this summer. That makes him a low-risk, straightforward signing if the Knicks want to keep cap space clean.
He’s not a star. But at 7 feet with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he can catch lobs, block shots, and rebound. That’s basically what the Knicks need from a backup center anyway, especially if Ariel Hukporti continues developing.
Looney’s Familiar Fit
Kevon Looney is a different kind of option. He has a $8 million team option with the New Orleans Pelicans that they have to decide on before free agency. If they decline it, Looney becomes a free agent. And the Knicks have been interested in him before.
Looney also has a strong relationship with Mike Brown from their time together with the Golden State Warriors. Brown is now on the Knicks’ coaching staff. That connection could help if New York wants to bring in a veteran who understands winning basketball and can still move his feet on defense.
Looney isn’t flashy. He doesn’t shoot threes. But he sets hard screens, knows where to be in pick-and-roll coverage, and has played in more playoff games than most of the Knicks’ young guys combined.
The Bottom Line
The Knicks want to avoid second-apron penalties. That changes everything. If they keep Robinson, they’re almost certainly going over. If they let him walk, they can sign Richards or Looney for cheap and still have room to fill other holes.
Jose Alvarado already declined his $4.5 million player option before signing a new three-year deal worth more than $14 million. That gives the Knicks some cap flexibility. But not enough to keep everyone.
Right now the smart money is on Robinson signing somewhere else. The Knicks know they need a center. They just might not need that center to be Mitchell Robinson.
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