Knicks Rumors: Mitchell Robinson Expected to Be Pursued by Pistons, Thunder and Mavs

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent over the summer, and he's expected to have suitors. 

According to Steve Popper of Newsday, the Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks are expected to pursue the veteran center. 

Much like the rest of the Knicks, Robinson has had an up-and-down season. The 23-year-old is averaging 8.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 76.9 percent from the field and a woeful 48.7 percent from the charity stripe. 

He remains the prototypical rim-running center on offense, with the athleticism to sky for lobs off the pick-and-roll. His offensive impact is limited beyond that and offensive rebounding, though. With Derrick Rose shelved for much of the season, the Knicks have been devoid of the high-end point guard play needed to best utilize him as a roller. 

Defensively, Robinson is a solid rim-protector, though the Knicks' defense has taken a major step back this season. 

When you can block Kevin Durant's shot, though, you know you have some serious athleticism:

In turn, the Knicks find themselves at 28-40, now a whopping five games back of the Charlotte Hornets (33-35) for the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and the final play-in berth. The Knicks have gone from reaching the postseason as one of the best stories in the league last season to potentially not even qualifying for the play-in tournament. 

It's been a rough season in New York, and it might be the last for head coach Tom Thibodeau. He might not be the only one to go, as it sounds as though Robinson will attract plenty of attention in free agency.