The New York Knicks are facing a challenging task as they seek to replace the outgoing Mitchell Robinson. With Robinson's departure, the team is in need of a new center to fill the void and provide a strong presence in the frontcourt. The free-agent market is limited, so the Knicks are exploring trade options to acquire a suitable replacement. Here are 10 trade targets the Knicks can consider to replace Robinson, along with personal commentary and analysis.
Yves Missi
Yves Missi, a 25-year-old big man, is an intriguing option for the Knicks. He averaged 5.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Pelicans this season, and his production dipped due to the emergence of other players. However, Missi has a ton of upside and could step in immediately to fill Robinson's role. His friendly contract of $3.5 million next year with a $5.6 million team option for 2027-28 makes him an attractive target. Personally, I think Missi's potential and affordability make him a strong candidate for the Knicks to consider.
Goga Bitadze
Goga Bitadze, who will make $7,608,696 this season, is a player the Knicks have shown interest in before. A move for Bitadze would require the Knicks to move McBride and Dadiet, but it would provide enough breathing room for the team to re-sign Landry Shamet. Bitadze averaged 5.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Magic this season, and his ability to step into the starting lineup in his first two years in Orlando is impressive. In my opinion, Bitadze's experience and production make him a viable option for the Knicks to consider.
Moussa Diabate
Moussa Diabate, a Frenchman who played a huge role for the Hornets, is an athletic big man who can run the floor and play above the rim. He averaged a career-best 7.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season, and his one-year deal at $2.4 million makes him an affordable option. While it's hard to see Charlotte parting ways with Diabate, the Knicks could explore a trade for him. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for Diabate to step into Robinson's role and provide a similar style of play. From my perspective, Diabate's athleticism and affordability make him a strong candidate for the Knicks to consider.
Ryan Kalkbrenner
Ryan Kalkbrenner, a 7-foot-1 big man who was a second-round pick last summer, showed promise as a rookie. He averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and his defensive rating of 112 shows his potential on that end of the floor. If Diabate is off the table, Kalkbrenner might be a viable option for the Knicks. One thing that immediately stands out is the potential for Kalkbrenner to provide a similar style of play to Robinson, with his size and defensive capabilities. What many people don't realize is that Kalkbrenner's affordability and potential make him an attractive trade target for the Knicks.
Clint Capela
Clint Capela, a 31-year-old veteran, is under contract for two more years and will make $7 million this upcoming season. The Knicks could explore a trade for Capela, moving McBride and Dadiet to acquire him. While Capela's production dropped off this past season, he still provides a strong defensive presence with a defensive rating of 108. If the Knicks were to acquire Capela, they would need to carefully consider the financial implications and the potential for him to fit into the team's plans. In my opinion, Capela's experience and defensive capabilities make him a viable option for the Knicks to consider, but the team must carefully weigh the financial and strategic implications of such a move.
Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton, a former number one overall pick, is an intriguing option for the Knicks. He has an $8 million player option that he's likely to opt into, and the Knicks kicked the tires on him last summer. If the Lakers' interest in Robinson is legitimate, there is a world where the Knicks could get Ayton and draft compensation from the Lakers in a sign-and-trade. However, Ayton has plenty of warts, and the Knicks must carefully consider the financial and strategic implications of acquiring him. What this really suggests is the complexity of the Knicks' decision-making process and the need for a thorough evaluation of Ayton's potential fit into the team's plans.
Day'ron Sharpe
Day'ron Sharpe, a darling among the analytics community, has a team-friendly $6.2 million team option. While it's hard to see Leon Rose making a deal with Sean Marks anytime soon, Sharpe is an intriguing option for the Knicks. Sharpe's ability to step into the starter's role in Brooklyn and his analytics-friendly profile make him an attractive target. However, the Knicks must carefully consider the financial and strategic implications of acquiring Sharpe, and the potential for him to fit into the team's plans. In my opinion, Sharpe's analytics-friendly profile and potential to step into a starting role make him a viable option for the Knicks to consider, but the team must carefully weigh the financial and strategic implications of such a move.
Dylan Cardwell
Dylan Cardwell, an undrafted big man who became a fan favorite for the Kings, is under control for three more years at a minuscule number. While it's hard to see Sacramento parting with him, the Knicks could explore a trade for Cardwell. Cardwell's affordability and potential to provide a similar style of play to Robinson make him an attractive target. However, the Knicks must carefully consider the financial and strategic implications of acquiring Cardwell, and the potential for him to fit into the team's plans. In my opinion, Cardwell's affordability and potential to provide a similar style of play make him a viable option for the Knicks to consider, but the team must carefully weigh the financial and strategic implications of such a move.
Jericho Sims
Jericho Sims, who opted into his $2.8 million player option for next season, is an intriguing option for the Knicks. The Bucks are in rebuild mode post the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and Sims can play above the rim and showed in Milwaukee that he can play an impactful role off the bench. If the Knicks were to trade Dadiet for Sims, it would work financially. Sims' affordability and potential to provide a similar style of play to Robinson make him an attractive target. However, the Knicks must carefully consider the financial and strategic implications of acquiring Sims, and the potential for him to fit into the team's plans. In my opinion, Sims' affordability and potential to provide a similar style of play make him a viable option for the Knicks to consider, but the team must carefully weigh the financial and strategic implications of such a move.
Kyle Filipowski
Kyle Filipowski, a two-year pro who just made headlines for giving top pick Darryn Peterson his number 22, is likely not up for grabs. However, as Utah plans for contention and re-signing big man Walker Kessler, perhaps Danny Ainge could be convinced to part with Filipowski. Filipowski would provide more offensive versatility than Robinson, with the ability to step out on the perimeter and knock down shots. His affordability and potential to provide a similar style of play to Robinson make him an attractive target. However, the Knicks must carefully consider the financial and strategic implications of acquiring Filipowski, and the potential for him to fit into the team's plans. In my opinion, Filipowski's affordability and potential to provide offensive versatility make him a viable option for the Knicks to consider, but the team must carefully weigh the financial and strategic implications of such a move.
Conclusion
The Knicks are facing a challenging task as they seek to replace Mitchell Robinson. With the free-agent market limited, the team is exploring trade options to acquire a suitable replacement. The 10 trade targets discussed in this article offer a range of options for the Knicks to consider, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. As the Knicks navigate the complexities of replacing Robinson, they must carefully consider the financial and strategic implications of each option, and the potential for each player to fit into the team's plans. In my opinion, the Knicks must carefully evaluate each option and make a decision that best aligns with their long-term goals and plans.
