The New York Knicks are staring down a championship hangover. Key center Mitchell Robinson, fresh off helping the franchise win its first title in 53 years, is an unrestricted free agent. And he might be walking out the door.
The problem isn’t performance. It’s money. Owner James Dolan has drawn a hard line on the NBA’s punitive second luxury tax apron. He made his stance perfectly clear. “There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said. He doubled down on the mandate, stating, “I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”
That financial reality puts Robinson’s future in serious doubt. He’s expected to command offers over $25 million per year, a number the Knicks simply cannot match without crossing Dolan’s line. Robinson was a monster on the boards last season, averaging 8.8 rebounds and providing critical paint protection.
So what’s the backup plan? Enter Kevon Looney. The former Warriors champion is now a free agent after the Pelicans declined his option. He’s a rebounding specialist who does the dirty work, and he has a deep history with Knicks head coach Mike Brown from their time together in Golden State. Looney would cost a fraction of what Robinson will, likely signing for the veteran minimum. It’s a massive drop in ceiling, but it keeps the team out of salary cap jail.
The Knicks aren’t the only team interested. The Celtics are reportedly targeting Looney, meaning Brown’s connection is an edge, not a guarantee. Meanwhile, the Lakers, Nets, and Kings are all rumored to be lining up to snatch Robinson. The Knicks are betting that familiarity and finances can somehow replace the guy who just helped them win it all.
