With the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m., the rumor mill is in full churn — and the Knicks have two weeks to decide if they’re going to make another swing to upgrade this roster before it’s locked in for the playoff hunt.
If they do make a move, it’s likely to include Mitchell Robinson, who hasn’t yet played this season while earning a $14 million salary.
Many fans are opposed to trading the longest tenured member of the team, who when healthy has proven himself an impact postseason player who happens to address some of this roster’s biggest weaknesses. But in the case Leon Rose and co. do opt to test the market, Robinson’s upside and contract make for their best asset in acquiring some desperately needed depth.
Here are five potential Robinson trades the Knicks can make…
Knicks get: Jonas Valanciunas
Wizards get: Mitchell Robinson, 2025 top-10 protected Wizards first-round pick
If New York is worried about Robinson’s return timeline, getting a healthy veteran center in his place is one avenue they could consider. Robinson is the superior big with a better fitting skillset when both are at their best, but Valanciunas could arguably be more dependable down the stretch of this season.
Valanciunas is a big body who can rebound well and provide some instant offense in the post, as well as some creation as a high post hub. The Knicks aren’t going to get much value back in any of these deals, and this one includes giving Washington back a strongly-protected first-round pick that converts to two seconds in a couple of drafts.
Knicks get: Torrey Craig, Jevon Carter, Chris Duarte, 2025 second-round pick (via Sacramento Kings)
Bulls get: Mitchell Robinson
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report included this proposal as the one trade New York should make. This type of package would work well if the Knicks priorities are immediate depth and not attaching anything to Robinson.
Craig is a 3-and-D multi-position wing, Carter a defense-first ball-capable guard, and Duarte is a fourth-year lottery pick who has been hampered by injuries. None of these names are big needle-movers, but throw in a second-round pick and the Knicks get a decent haul here.
Knicks get: Jordan Clarkson
Jazz get: Mitchell Robinson, two second-round picks
The Knicks had a publicly unsuccessful negotiation with Danny Ainge a few years ago, but that won’t stop this front office from exploring every avenue possible. A buy-low swing on Robinson with added draft capital could be in the cards, and would net New York a certified bucket-getter for their playoff chase.
Clarkson isn’t everybody’s cup of tea and isn’t the first name to come up when you think “Thibs player,” but Utah has a few different packages that could work. The Knicks can add Precious Achiuwa and go for Collin Sexton, or with the right amount of picks try and nab Walker Kessler in addition to either guard.
Knicks get: Nikola Vucevic
Bulls get: Mitchell Robinson, Precious Achiuwa, 2025 top-10 protected Wizards first round pick
In a similar vein to the Valanciunas trade, here the Knicks add sweeteners to the Robinson package to acquire a higher-caliber (if ill-fitting) big to bolster the bench. Vucevic is having a strong season, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds while hitting over 41 percent of his threes.
Chicago furthers its rebuild with a couple of rotation pieces and a pick, while New York gets a two-time All-Star as a reserve for their already-potent offense. He doesn’t address their defensive needs, but few available targets do, and this is one of the highest-talent plays plausible.
Knicks get: Kevon Looney, Kyle Anderson
Bulls get: Mitchell Robinson, Jericho Sims, Gary Payton II
Warriors get: Nikola Vucevic
The Knicks’ best path to cap clearance for depth pieces may be via a three-team trade. In this iteration, Vucevic goes to Golden State, and New York gets a couple of their deeper rotation guys.
Looney is a dependable five who does all the little things that would open up doors for this team: screening, boxing out, and rebounding. Anderson has been in and out of the rotation but is a veteran wing who can impact the game in a variety of ways.
