New York Knicks: 5 trade candidates to replace Mitchell Robinson

Lately, things have been sailing smoothly for the New York Knicks. A record of 14-15 currently finds the Knicks comfortably inside the playoff spots that seem a more realistic possibility as the days go by.

Despite Julius Randle’s breakout season, which should, by all means, be rewarded with an All-Star reserve spot, New York’s success has not been a one-man show. About two handsful of players, each playing their part and contributing to the surprising Knicks regrowth.

By pulling the trigger on the recent acquisition of Derrick Rose, the front office all but announced that they consider themselves serious playoff contenders. The days of constant and painful rebuilding are now, apparently, behind us.

As this equilibrium was beginning to result in more and more wins, an injury struck the team. Mitchell Robinson, who had started every game at center up until then, suffered a fractured right hand against the Washington Wizards and will undergo surgery to fix it.

Robinson’s injury will leave him absent from all basketball activities for up to six weeks. As a result, a big gap has been created within the squad, that can quickly diminish every last bit of playoff hope if left untreated.

The New York Knicks need to trade for a starting center ASAP, with many candidates available and up to the task for the job.

This goes without saying, but the New York Knicks will not be targetting any player that would require a sizeable package in return. In simpler terms, no key members of the young core can and will be included in any potential deal.

At the moment, there seems to be a wide selection of quality centers that could be up for grabs. Most of them are on expiring contracts, meaning that they have the most to prove, as they are about to enter free agency in the summer.

Here are some of the key players the New York Knicks could enquire about, in order to fill the void left by the very capable Mitchell Robinson.