Some real implications from a trade the Knicks had nothing to do with.
Early last night, before the Knicks lost to the Lakers, before OG Anunoby suffered what could be a significant injury, and before the Mavericks and Lakers shocked the sports world with one of, if not the biggest, trades ever, Knicks fans got some good news. Head coach Tom Thibodeau revealed that center Mitchell Robinson was “pretty close” to getting cleared for full contact practices. This was significant to hear since the Knicks had been pretty quiet about the center’s progress or lack thereof. And that’s led to Robinson, who is currently the longest-tenured Knick, being a hot topic for the Knicks and their fans for months now.
Tom Thibodeau said Mitchell Robinson is ‘pretty close’ to getting cleared for full contact/full practice. That’s the next step in his rehab/return to the court.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 1, 2025
When healthy, he has the ability to change the game instantly. Defensively, he’s one of the most impactful big men in the league, and while his offensive skillset is limited, he’s among the best offensive rebounders around. But the aforementioned health is the main problem with Robinson. As many have said so often, availability is the best ability, and Robinson, unfortunately, just isn’t available very often.
That has led to a difficult situation where the team, as well as the fans, seem rather undecided on what to do with the center. Do they keep him, and bank on him staying healthy? If they did, nobody would blame New York given how well he performed in the playoffs against the Cavaliers two seasons ago, and last year against the Sixers. And compared to any other center the Knicks could possibly acquire at the trade deadline, Robinson gives them the best chance at winning. He raises their ceiling overnight, and a healthy Robinson would serve as a much-needed injection of depth, size, and talent.
Or do they trade the oft-injured rim protector for someone who is a bit more reliable health-wise? It’d be a safer move for a team that might not need any more top-end talent but certainly needs more depth, especially after the Anunoby injury. Not to mention that there’s a chance, albeit a slight one, that the Knicks acting more positive about Robinson’s return is a strategy to try and up his trade value ever so slightly ahead of this week’s trade deadline. If this ends up being the route the Knicks and their front office pursue, last night’s historic trade could be bad news for the Knicks, their front office, and their fans.
It may be fun to laugh at the Mavericks right now. They let Brunson walk for nothing a few summers ago and then traded away a 25-year-old perennial MVP candidate for a 31-year-old Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and just one pick. But the Lakers’ glaring hole at the center position likely means more competition for the Knicks at the trade deadline. Now, there’s no guarantee that the Knicks and Lakers share interest in the same players. But many reports over the last few months suggest that there is some overlap.
Names like Walker Kessler, and Jonas Valanciunas have repeatedly come up as guys that both teams have been interested in. With the blockbuster trade now official, there is a chance that the Lakers shift their views and change their targets. Maybe a guy like Nikola Vucevic ends up being more of a priority for them, which would be great since the Knicks are neither interested nor in the position to even acquire him. But if the Lakers do take a look at some of the cheaper options, the Knicks, given their lack of assets, may find it hard to outbid the Lakers for their primary targets.
Lastly, does this open up a lane for the Lakers to go after Robinson? It seems unlikely since Robinson, as stated earlier, can’t seem to stay on the court. But if the Lakers were to maybe go get multiple centers and take a chance on Robinson, that could end up being a very good team. What the Knicks get in return and what, if any other, teams could be involved remains to be seen. But this is a reminder that even if your team isn’t directly involved in a trade, there can be real implications for your team. Be it future trade market, draft positioning, free agency, trajectory of teams in your conference, or, in this case, competition at the trade deadline, there is often a domino effect.