Knicks Rumors: Mitchell Robinson Trade or Return from Injury Seen as Key to Depth Fix

The key to fixing the depth issues on the New York Knicks roster appear to revolve around Mitchell Robinson.

Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that Robinson's return to the lineup or his value on the trade market could be the "one real path" to shoring up the depth of the roster that has led the franchise to a 29-16 start.

"The one real path to changing that, according to sources, is injured center Mitchell Robinson -- either by his return to the court after he has missed the entire season so far with foot and ankle issues, or by his inclusion in a trade," Bontemps and Windhorst wrote.

Robinson has been out for the entirety of the 2024-25 season due to offseason ankle surgery. He played in 31 games in 2023-24 for New York, averaging 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He also appeared in six playoff games, averaging 2.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

He would slot in behind Karl-Anthony Towns on the Knicks depth chart and could help ease some pressure on the team's starting five of Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. Windhorst and Bontemps reported that Anunoby, Hart, Brunson and Bridges all rank in the top five in the NBA in minutes while Towns is in the top 25.

While this means that the team's top players have been impacting the game on a night-by-night basis, it also could result in some burnout when the grind of the postseason begins. Robinson's presence at this time could help, but the lack of resources for a potential trade beyond him may make him more expendable by the Feb. 6 trade deadline.