Despite an eventful offseason, the New York Knicks may not be done with trades just yet. Mitchell Robinson has shared some cryptic social media posts since the announcement of the blockbuster trade that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. Like many Knicks fans, Robinson appears to be processing the news, but his posts have raised concerns among some fans.
Robinson took to Instagram to voice his thoughts, and while he didn’t explicitly say he was upset, his posts hint at dissatisfaction. The most notable was a now-deleted story where he referred to himself as the “Longest Knick,” highlighting that he is the last remaining player from the 2019-20 Knicks roster. He also shared posts emphasizing his defensive and rebounding contributions and his sacrifices to help the team succeed. Additionally, he posted tributes to his relationship with Randle.
To add to the uncertainty, rumors have surfaced that the Knicks are “receiving and taking calls” about Robinson, according to Knicks Film School’s Kris Pursiainen. This news is surprising for two reasons: Robinson’s trade value is currently lower due to his ankle injuries between December 2023 and May 2024, and, more critically, there’s no clear replacement for him in the Knicks’ rotation. Although Towns is a seven-footer, he lacks the defensive prowess of Robinson, who was instrumental in slowing down MVP Joel Embiid in last year’s playoffs.
The possibility of entering the season with only one experienced center on the roster is concerning, regardless of Towns’ defensive abilities.
This isn’t the first time Robinson has shared cryptic posts. In recent weeks, he posted messages like, “The truth always comes out at some point. Keep that in mind,” and “Stay tuned to TikTok. It’s finna go down.” In comparison, his recent posts seem mild, but they still leave room for interpretation.
As for Robinson’s 2024-25 outlook, he will begin the season sidelined as he recovers from an ankle injury, which he re-aggravated in the infamous moment when Joel Embiid grabbed his leg during a game. Robinson is expected to return in December or January, aiming for full health before rejoining the lineup.
When healthy, Robinson is a defensive force with career averages of 7.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in just 24.5 minutes. However, injuries have been a recurring issue throughout his six-year career, with Robinson missing 20 or more games in four of those seasons.
While the Knicks seemed secure at the center position after the 2024 NBA Playoffs, they lost Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a salary cap constraint. This, combined with Robinson’s injury history, likely spurred the Knicks’ pursuit of Towns.
Towns adds versatility to the Knicks’ roster, but Robinson’s unique defensive skills make trading him a risky move, especially while injured. Any deal involving Robinson would likely yield less value than the Knicks would prefer.
On the bright side, team president Leon Rose has a strong track record in rebuilding the Knicks. Fans can only hope that Robinson’s social media posts are simply him being himself, and not a sign of deeper discontent.