The defending champions are eyeing two bigs as low-cost options at center if Robinson leaves in free agency.
Mitchell Robinson helped the Knicks win their first championship in 53 years, grabbing a game-sealing offensive rebound in the Finals clincher against the Spurs and providing the rim protection that fueled a dominant 16-3 playoff run.
He wants to come back, and the front office wants him back, but the financial reality of the NBA's second apron may force both sides apart.
Owner James Dolan has publicly stated he will not push the team payroll past that threshold, and that means New York probably cannot match what Robinson will get elsewhere.
The Money Problem
The Knicks went 53-29 in the regular season and steamrolled through the East on their way to the title, but keeping this championship roster intact gets tricky when the salary cap is involved.
New York has about $208 million committed to 10 players and roughly $14 million in room before crossing the second apron, with at least four more spots to fill.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets have both been linked to Robinson, with league sources telling ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel that the Lakers plan to offer a long-term deal near the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception of roughly $15.1 million a year.
The Knicks, trying to stay under the apron, can only offer somewhere around $5 to $6 million annually, which will not be enough to keep him.
Two Names Worth Knowing
"Two names league sources brought up in connection to the Knicks as possible replacements for Robinson are Nick Richards and Kevon Looney," Siegel reported.
Richards is an unrestricted free agent after finishing the season with the Chicago Bulls, where he averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds on 51.2 percent shooting across 48 games.
After arriving at the trade deadline, he stepped into a bigger role and put up 9.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 20 games.
His agent, Max Saidman of CAA, also represents Jose Alvarado and has a strong working relationship with Knicks president Leon Rose, which smooths the path between both sides.
Looney spent this past season with the New Orleans Pelicans, who have since declined his $8 million team option.
The 30-year-old three-time champion appeared in only 21 games, averaging 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in limited minutes, but his connection to Knicks head coach Mike Brown runs deep from their years together with the Golden State Warriors.
Who Fits Better?
Richards looks like the stronger option between the two.
He is younger at 28, brings more production, and his skillset as a rim-running center who finishes at the basket and blocks shots lines up closer with what Robinson gave the Knicks off the bench.
Looney has the championship experience and the coaching relationship with Brown, but his limited output this past year and his age position him more as a depth piece than a true Robinson fill-in.
The Knicks have also explored trading for other centers, but if the free-agent route is the play, Richards appears to check more boxes for a team trying to defend a title without breaking the bank.
