A few Knicks notes as the offseason continues:

Knicks wanted Gibson back

The Knicks made a strong push to re-sign veteran center Taj Gibson on a one-year minimum deal, per an SNY source. But with Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims on the roster, Gibson chose to explore opportunities that offered more of an on-court role.

Gibson cleared waivers on Sunday, per ESPN, and will sign with the Washington Wizards.

His presence on and off the court will be missed by the organization. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had an opportunity to return to New York post-retirement.

Mitch to lead youth movement

With Gibson in Washington, the Knicks seem committed to playing young players at the center position. And that commitment starts, obviously, with Robinson.

The 24-year-old had a number of different opportunities entering free agency. Ultimately, he decided to return to New York on a four-year, $60 million deal.

It’s unclear if any of Robinson’s suitors planned to offer him more than what he took with the Knicks, but money wasn’t the sole factor in his decision.

Per sources familiar with the matter, Robinson’s relationships with his young teammates were a factor in his decision to return to New York. Robinson wanted to continue to grow with those young teammates.

Also, Robinson’s strong relationships with members of the organization who were here when he was drafted played a role in his decision to return.

“If he feels like you’re in his corner, that means a lot to him,” one person familiar with the matter said.

Under the direction of then team president Steve Mills and current GM Scott Perry, New York drafted Robinson with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2018 Draft.

At the time, Robinson was a year removed from playing organized basketball. Instead of playing college basketball after a standout prep career, Robinson spent a year training and preparing for the draft.

Knick management and coaches - Perry in particular - continually challenged Robinson to improve on and off the court. And he responded, establishing himself as one of the top young rim defenders in the league.

His offensive game has been limited, but Robinson and some around him feel that he is just scratching the surface of his talent on both ends of the floor.

Obviously, the Knicks feel confident that Robinson will continue to grow and anchor their defense. Robinson presumably feels the same way about the Knicks.

“He had a number of opportunities,” a league source familiar with his thinking said. “He chose to be there.”

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