Knicks Mailbag: With Mitchell Robinson out, will NY add a center before the season starts?

SNYs Ian Begley will respond to Knicks questions from readers. Here’s the latest…

Ian…Maybe the Knicks should trade Mitchell Robinson to Portland for Robert Williams? – @hoppysport

This raises an important question for the Knicks: Do you start the season with what you have or do you try to make an immediate trade to replace the injured? Mitchell Robinson?

As noted Wednesday, the Knicks have expressed confidence in the team’s depth and versatility in the wake of the Robinson news. In conversations with people connected to the team, the Knicks seem open to seeing what the current roster looks like at this point. They haven’t given the impression they’re rushing to trade for a starting-caliber center.

I can say it with certainty: they have known for weeks that Robinson may not be ready for the start of the season. This was communicated to outside parties by the Knicks when they looked at the center market this offseason. I’m not sure exactly when the Knicks became aware of Robinson’s current schedule. But it’s fair to assume the timeline wasn’t a huge surprise internally.

I point that out because if you look at the Knicks’ recent signings – Landry Shamet, Marcus Morris Sr. – they haven’t functioned like a team desperate for a starting-level center.

Maybe that will change based on what they see in training camp or the preseason. But the Knicks don’t have much ability to match their salary in trades unless you factor that in as well Jos Hart, Donte DiVincenzo or Julius Randle. Also, Tom Thibodeau already officially said he is comfortable playing Julius Randle at center for 15 minutes per game.

That theoretically leaves a gap of 33 minutes Jericho Sims, Precious Achiuwaand maybe a rookie Ariel Hukporti. The Knicks also added Morris with the idea that he could play stretch 4 or stretch 5 against smaller lineups at this point in his career.

Another thing worth mentioning: outside of Philadelphia Joel Embidwhat back-to-the-basket threat will the Knicks face in the Eastern Conference? That is not to diminish what Robinson and those who left have done Isaiah Hartenstein intended for the Knicks. They were both crucial to New York’s success, especially on the offensive glass. The Knicks will have to find a way to make up for the loss of second-chance points that comes with Robinson’s (and Hartenstein’s) absence.

But it’s not like they have to deal with it Alonzo Mourning And Shaquille O’Neal Three to four times this season.

So you can see how the Knicks would feel comfortable entering the season with the current roster.

But make no mistake, this team is in a championship window. The Mikal Bridges trade opened the window. So there has to be a sense of urgency to win games. And by playing small lineups, you’re asking Thibodeau to move away from a formula that has worked well for much of his Knicks tenure: a rotation that includes two traditional centers.

So I’m assuming New York will be aggressive on the trade market after December 15 (when most 2024 free agent signees can be traded), or before December 15 if it becomes clear that the current alignment isn’t working.

Other teams know the Knicks will be looking for a center. So they will not act from a position of strength.

But there should be several useful centers available in the trading market.

We previously noted that the Knicks were interested in it Nick Richards, Goga Bitadze, Walker Kessler, Jonas Valanciunas And Andre Drummond early in the 2024 offseason.

Depending on how their respective teams are doing, some of these veteran centers may be available through trade.

It’s hard to see a scenario where Drummond is traded from Philadelphia, as the Sixers need a quality backup for Embiid.

The Magic invested significantly in Bitadze. So it seems far-fetched that they would be open to moving him this season.

Richards is now eligible for relocation and Charlotte appears to be starting from scratch. So it’s not a huge leap to suggest that Charlotte would be open to moving Richards during the season.

Kessler is under contract. The Knicks were among a group of teams that reached out to Utah against Kessler this offseason. At the time, Utah wanted multiple first-round picks. Will the Jazz make Kessler available before the deadline? Will any team make the asking price? Depending on where the Knicks and Jazz are in mid-December, it may make sense to rekindle discussions about Kessler.

I will always post Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Cities on a list of potential Knicks centers. But transactions of that magnitude rarely happen during the season. And again, New York would have to move at least one of Randle, Hart or DiVincenzo to pull off a trade of that magnitude.

I would put Robert Williams III on this list because Portland has two starting-caliber centers (Williams and DeAndre Ayton) and drafted big man Donovan Clingan at No. 7 in the 2024 NBA Draft. I am Udoka was a big fan of Williams from their time together in Boston. Of Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams And Jock Landale There is no room on the roster for Williams in Houston. But perhaps the Rockets will change their roster, creating room for Williams? Regardless of what happens in Houston, the 26-year-old Williams should have plenty of suitors if Portland decides to call on him.

I would add Ayton to the list because the Knicks have had interest in him in the past and have done background work on him. Ayton averaged 22.7 points and 12.5 rebounds (3.6 offensive) in 18 games played after last season’s All-Star break. He shot 58 percent from the field during that stretch and has playoff/NBA Finals experience.

(*I’m not saying here that the Knicks talked to the Blazers about Ayton. So don’t suggest altogether that they did. Thanks.)

Teams can make their players available via trade if they are struggling during the season. I think Chicago Nikola Vucevic and that of Toronto Jakob Poeltl are two names to keep an eye on in this scenario. I’m sure there will be others. Detroit is worth keeping an eye on. The team is under new leadership as president Trajan Langdon. I’d bet the total cost of two courtside seats at MSG means the Knicks have at least touched base with Detroit Isaiah Stewart And Jalen Duren.

FAST HITTERS

Does this mean they can land both Marcus Morris and Shamet on the roster since there is an injury spot? -@AsaGates3

There is no additional roster spot in the wake of Robinson’s updated timeline. The Knicks have 14 players on traditional NBA deals and have room for one more traditional NBA contract. So they can keep Morris OR Shamet on traditional NBA deals. But they can’t keep them both unless they part with a player currently signed to a traditional contract

I hate to put the spotlight on you, but if you had to guess who would be the starting Center next season, who would it be? Sims or Achiuwa? We know Thibs likes continuity and Sims comes closest in terms of playing style to what Mitch has offered. – @insidethearc__

My first guess is that Sims starts and Achiuwa supports him. This answer assumes Randle is not ready to start the season. We should get an update from Thibodeau on Randle’s status next week. For what it’s worth, I didn’t take this answer from Thibodeau as a guarantee that Randle will be on the field at the start of camp. When he’s on the field for camp, he’s significantly ahead of the traditional rehab schedule.

Mitchell Robinson missing two months will have a huge impact on the win. I’ve been consistent all summer in saying that I don’t think the Knicks are a Top 3 team in the East. Mitch is too unreliable. God help the Knicks if OG misses games too. – @The__Cooler

I agree with Cooler on the extent of Robinson’s injury. I think it’s a big problem. And it’s fair to say Robinson is unreliable due to his injury history. But let’s not forget how he got hurt. It was a takedown of Embiid in the Knicks-Sixers series. And let’s not forget that Robinson returned to the field earlier than planned at the end of the regular season because he wanted to be there when it mattered. It’s just my opinion, but I think that context should be factored into any analysis of Robinson.