Knicks players were crushed to learn that center Mitchell Robinson suffered another serious injury Saturday night, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Playing his second game back in the starting lineup, the third-year center got hurt midway through the first quarter when he tried for a steal attempt. Robinson landed awkwardly and wound up with a fracture in his right root. The Knicks announced the injury to the public, but didn’t tell the players until after the game.
“He worked so hard to get back,” RJ Barrett said. “To see him go down again, it hurts us, hurts the team. But we’re just — we’re gonna be with him every step of the way until he gets back.”
The timing is particularly bad for New York, coming on the same night that word leaked that LaMarcus Aldridge plans to signs with the Nets and Andre Drummond appears headed to the Lakers. The Knicks have cap room to use on the buyout market, but the two biggest names are already likely committed.
“He’ll be fine,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of Robinson. “He’ll have to go through rehab and stuff, but he’s been through that before, and just maximize his time that way. But you feel for a teammate. It’s part of the game, and you have to deal with it as best you can.”
There’s more from New York:
- “One or two prominent voices” in the Knicks’ front office were in favor of pursuing Drummond before the organization cooled on the idea, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). He adds that the team had been hoping to use the rest of the season to evaluate how Robinson fits in Thibodeau’s system. If New York picks up Robinson’s $1.8MM team option for 2021/22, it would put him on track for unrestricted free agency in ’22. Begley states that Gorgui Dieng, Norvel Pelle and John Henson could be potential low-cost pickups for the Knicks, who have an open roster spot.
- Assistant coach Kenny Payne will remain in New York, even though DePaul had strong interest in making him its next head coach, Begley tweets.
- The Knicks were quiet at the trade deadline while teams around them in the standings made big moves, notes Steve Popper of Newsday. The organization has adopted a strategy of preserving its assets for the future, rather than gambling to make a playoff run this year.
It was his second game back in the starting lineup.
They should snag Dieng before someone else does. He won’t be unemployed long.
I just saw Dieng is going to the Spurs
No, he didn’t start his first game back, Noel started and he came off the bench.
Tough year for the kid. He’s one of my favourites, but I’m still torn on whether he’s a long term building block for the team. Thibs is going to be here for a while, would have been good to see Mitch get 50-60 games in Thibs system. Picking up the option at year’s end is a no brainer, but extending him is a much tougher decision.
Drummond is garbage. Lebron is going to hate having him as a teammate.
My Drummond next contract prediction
Two year deal with a team option
$35 million
How about yours?
According to New York newspaper
Rockets demand 1 good young player and at least two future first round picks for Oladipo
One thing for sure
Knicks have interest
Oladipo has already been traded to the Heat and the deadline has passed, so ‘Knicks have interest’ is pretty irrelevant (and clearly wasn’t true).
What NY newspaper had that story??
If the Knicks just pick up his option, MR won’t be an RFA in 2022, he’ll be a UFA. Rose has to read the situation, but I would think they’ll offer some type of extension coupled with declining the option. If he wants too much, then they’ll exercise the option, but the commitment to him long term can’t be as great.
Rockets asking price for Harden is
One proven young star like Ben Simmons and Massive first round picks
The biggest proven young star Rockets got is Kelly Olynyk
Rockets did get 4 bad Firsts and 5 fake swaps
Therefore Knicks don’t care about Rockets asking price for Dipo
‘Rockets asking price for Harden is
One proven young star like Ben Simmons and Massive first round picks’
Are you a bot that is broken? Harden’s been on the Nets for months.
Sometimes I think he does it on purpose. But over time it just seems it is what it is. Capacity is not for everyone, I just try to be cordial.
I was looking at Dieng too, he would have decent. Don’t know if there are G-league centers that are available. Cause we would only need 10-15 mins a gm. share it with Taj, Noel. You need size for the playoffs. I believe Pelle is still out there. Knicks will have to add a center. We got till 5PM eastern time to see if Drummond goes to LA.
I get LA is a good place for him. A playoff run there will get him lots of exposure. If they go far he can be a part of that and use it as a FA. I don’t think they can resign him. So Hornets, Mavs, Raptors are all probably watching him closely now.
The Knicks guna ride the randle train and fail
That’s why players still don’t want to come
Knicks are 24 – 22 and the 4th seed. With basically the same roster as last yr. That’s the Thibs train. Vegas odds were a 23 win season. What players would that be. We haven’t gone after any players. Knicks rebuilding under Thibs. “Only just begun”
Fail… did u think they were gonna be in the playoff race to begin with?? i don’t understand what u saying… so because of Randle playing very well that’s why players won’t come to NY… smh… i don’t get it.
I thought Dedmond was signed. He’s still available I’m good with him as backup. Knicks want to make the playoffs this yr. They want to make a good showing in playoffs. They need to pick up a legit Center. Noel and Taj are not. We can do center by committee. And before you start crying about Noel. He’s 6’10” n 220 LBs. Not a starting center size. Noel as a 20-30 min guy. Can give you productive mins. Thats what I mean C by committee.