Knicks offering Mitchell Robinson in trades as Isaiah Hartenstein free agency looms
Keeping Isaiah Hartenstein may cost the Knicks Mitchell Robinson.
The Knicks have discussed moving Robinson with other teams, according to Yahoo, as they attempt to retain Hartenstein in free agency.
Hartenstein is “generally expected” to return to the Knicks despite what could turn into a bidding war for the veteran big man.
The Knicks had a strong offensive-defensive combination at the 5 with Mitchell, the defender, and Hartenstein, the offensive-oriented player, but it may not make sense to keep both.
Robinson has two years left and roughly $27.3 million — $14.32 million in 2024-25, $12.95 million in 2025-26 — on the four-year, $60 million extension he signed in 2022.
While Robinson is a top-notch defender, he has struggled to stay healthy.
He’s played in just 90 games since signing the extension, and appeared in just six of 13 postseason games due to a stress fracture in his left ankle that required surgery.
As Robinson spent most of the year sidelined, Hartenstein flourished. He averaged 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds this year, and appeared in 157 of 164 regular-season games over the last two years.
That production and availability makes him a hot commodity.
Since they are over the cap, the Knicks can only offer Hartenstein a contract with an average annual value of roughly $17 million with a max offer of four years and $72.5 million.
The Thunder are seen as serious contenders coming off a season in which they led the Western Conference in wins, but sources told Yahoo that Oklahoma City is expected to court a “situational reserve big man,” which is not a role a team would pay big money for.
They also just acquired defensive whiz Alex Caruso in exchange for Josh Giddey.
The other top free-agent big men include the Nets’ Nic Claxton and the Pelicans’ Jonas Valanciunas.
If the Knicks commit to moving Mitchell, they may be one of many teams attempting to deal a big man.
Yahoo reported the Bucks’ Brook Lopez, the Hawks’ Clint Capela, the Jazz’s Walker Kessler and the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart are potential trade targets for teams needing size.
