The New York Knicks' out-of-nowhere blockbuster deal for Karl Anthony Towns has led to questions about their roster post-trade. Randle and Towns are both among the more polarizing players in the NBA. Statistically, Randle and Town's stats are comparable, though Town's contract, which will pay him $224 million over the next 4 years, is widely seen as a bad deal.
To his credit, Towns is one of the best big-man shooters in NBA history, with him claiming as much. His 62.3 true shooting percentage for his career is stellar, with the league average over that same span being 56.1%.
If he pans out in New York, he'd help their offense reach new heights, particularly if he plays center. That leads to questions about starting center Mitchell Robinson's future, especially with him out for at least several weeks, possibly even indefinitely.
The New York Knicks should be kicking the tires on another big trade
According to CBS's Sam Quinn, the Knicks may not be done wheeling and dealing with the possibility of trading Robinson.
If there’s another big piece coming, I suspect it’s via a Mitch trade. Would just have to be someone who expires in 2026 or later so they can be re-signed at market value without impacting the apron clock. https://t.co/dfXvuBooZ4
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) October 1, 2024
That would be a surprising move considering the lack of depth at the center. On the other hand, if the plan is to play Towns at the five, then moving Robinson for a potentially cheaper backup center would make sense.
They were previously linked to Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards, though the Hornets are probably open to moving him because they already have a starting center in place. Therefore, it would probably be another team interested in Robinson, with the New Orleans Pelicans seeming like an option.
Is there a Mitchell Robinson trade that makes sense for the Knicks?
The Pelicans don't have a starting center at the moment so they could potentially trade for Robinson, even with his injury concerns. However, they may have problems matching salaries. Another option could be the Utah Jazz, who have Walker Kessler, who is still on a rookie contract, making him a realistic trade target for the Knicks.
His defense would be perfect for the Knicks and give them someone who can anchor the second unit and even start if the matchup calls for it. Working out a three-team trade in which the Knicks trade Robinson to another team and that team trades assets to Utah while the Jazz send Kessler to New York might be an option. Overall, despite his importance to the Knicks, Robinson isn't untradeable, especially with his injury concerns, and they would be smart to see what's out there.