A few notes on the Knicks centers:
A source confirmed an ESPN report that the Knicks and Mitchell Robinson’s agent – Thad Foucher of Wasserman – have had multiple conversations over the course of the current league season about an extension for Robinson.
New York can offer Robinson an extension of four years for around $48 million at any point prior to June 30.
In at least one of the conversations between the Knicks and Robinson’s representation prior to the deadline, the team and player were "not close" on the terms, per an SNY source.
I’d be lying if I told you I knew the exact numbers discussed at the time. But a source familiar with the talks said one of New York’s offers wasn’t close to the max that the club can offer Robinson via extension.
If the Knicks and Robinson don’t agree to an extension prior to June 30, Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent.
The worst-case scenario for New York would be letting Robinson sign with another team and not receiving any compensation via sign-and-trade.
The Knicks and Robinson have spent three-plus seasons together. In that time, Robinson, the No. 36 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, has shown evidence that he can be an elite interior defender. He’s also shown evidence that he can cover significant ground on defense and alter shots all over the court. Are there areas defensively where Robinson can improve? Of course.
On the other end of the court, Robinson can finish around the rim and is a threat at the rim as a screener in pick and roll. His game, however, hasn’t expanded much beyond that during his Knicks tenure.
Is that because he wasn’t given the chance to show more? Only Robinson and the Knicks know the answer to that.
When it comes to free agency, Robinson should receive interest from multiple teams in the offseason. One team that had interest in Robinson ahead of the deadline? The Detroit Pistons. Detroit is one of the few teams with projected cap space this summer. The Pistons traded for Marvin Bagley III at the deadline. I don’t know if that trade impacts their degree of interest in Robinson, but they had interest in him ahead of the deadline.
Given all of those factors, it will be interesting to see how things play out between the Knicks and Robinson over the next four months. If the club and player haven’t reached an extension by now, it seems likely that Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski noted on Sunday.
Technically, Nerlens Noel was a DNP in the last two games. He was active for the Knicks and could have taken the floor if needed. But Noel is far from 100 percent healthy, per a source. Noel is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, a source confirmed.
Per an SNY source, Noel’s injury first flared up on Feb. 7 against Utah. Tom Thibodeau said after Sunday’s game that he’d like Noel to get fully healthy before he returns to the court in his previous role. Noel has played in 25 games this season; his injuries have included knee and ankle ailments. It’s unclear if Noel will be back at 100 percent prior to the end of the season. For reference, Portland’s Jusuf Nurkic will be out four weeks with the same ailment.
New York rookie Jericho Sims has backed up Robinson at center in the past two games. Thibodeau said the club would like to take a look at Sims in game action. This is just a guess, but maybe with Robinson’s future in New York less than certain, maybe the club wants to see how Sims looks in games as it evaluates its options at center for next season.
Noel’s plantar fasciitis was first reported by the New York Daily News.
