Knicks Rumors: Latest on Mitchell Robinson's Future After Bulls' Trade Interest

The New York Knicks chose not to move Mitchell Robinson before Thursday's NBA trade deadline and could now lose him for nothing as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, "The relationship between Robinson and the Knicks currently isn't on firm ground."

The Knicks reportedly had an opportunity to make a trade with four teams interested, including the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons.

Robinson is currently averaging 8.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in 51 appearances. His 42 starts in 2021-22 are already a career high after he shifted between bench and starting roles throughout his first three years in the NBA.

The 23-year-old has proved to be an elite shot-blocker and is one of the most efficient players in the NBA, ranking 16th in the league this season with 5.9 win shares (ahead of Ja Morant, Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum, among others).

He doesn't stretch the floor offensively and is mostly just a lob threat and offensive rebounder, but those are roles he could fill for a number of teams. Berman reported the Pistons, Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans are among those likely to pursue him.

The Knicks could offer him a five-year extension worth $55 million, though teams that spoke to New York ahead of the deadline reportedly expect Robinson to leave in free agency.

That would mean the Knicks wasted an opportunity to recoup assets in a trade, instead keeping Robinson for the remainder of what seems to be a lost season. The squad entered Monday sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference at 25-32.

There were high expectations entering the year after the Knicks went 41-31 last season and earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, and that might've clouded the organization's judgment at the deadline. The Knicks' only trade came in January with the acquisition of Cam Reddish, who has struggled to crack the rotation.

The team instead held on to veterans such as Julius Randle, Evan Fournier, Alec Burks, Kemba Walker and Robinson at the deadline.