PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MAY 02: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of game six of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on May 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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The Knicks have traded away a slew of draft picks in this NBA Draft to save money for their own free agents like Mitchell Robinson.
But the Knicks could still lose their backup center to a team like the L.A. Lakers if Los Angeles shows him the money.
“I would say if the Lakers put an offer in that $13-15 million range, it would be hard for New York to match something like that,” ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks said on air during Wednesday’s NBA Draft.
Marks pointed out that the Lakers have committed about $100 million to their backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who on Wednesday agreed to a four-year, $185 million max contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
With that backcourt, the Lakers will need defenders in the paint and at the rim. The Lakers have Deandre Ayton under contract next season, but he has a player option for $8.1 million.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin previously reported that Doncic asked the Lakers to “Get me an A-list center.”
Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren are restricted free agents and are unlikely to land in L.A..
“I don’t see the Lakers getting them,” Marks said. “Then it’s Mitchell Robinson, it’s Robert Williams and you can go out and make a trade for potentially a center.”
Knicks owner James Dolan said his team won’t go into the second apron to keep the roster intact, which would include re-signing Robinson and free agent guard Landry Shamet.
“We cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said last week on WFAN radio in New York.
Hence the Knicks’ decision to trade away their draft picks in this draft, to use that money to re-sign Mo Diawara, Robinson and others. Diawara intends to sign a multiyear, $10-plus million deal to return to the Knicks, per ESPN.
Per ESPN, the Knicks “were just $200,000 under the second apron this past season.” Marks confirmed the Knicks are projected to be $13 million under the second apron next season (with salaries of $209 million compared to the second apron number of $222 million).
All five starters from the 2025-26 season are under contract for at least two more seasons, but Dolan’s announcement would mean changes on the bench.
“If Jim Dolan is to be taken at that edict, there will be no Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet back,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Thursday on “Get Up.”