The New York Knicks haven't even had the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals yet, and the internet is already talking about Mitchell Robinson leaving the team in free agency. As always, the team tied to the rumor is the Sacramento Kings, a team that needs to cut back on centers.
Like the OKC Thunder, this offseason will be filled with difficult choices. Salaries will be on the rise, and roster cuts will need to be made to avoid salary tax and luxury tax issues. That means any free agents on the bubble are creating opportunities for other teams to pick up some good players.
In the case of the Knicks, Robinson is one of those upcoming free agents. He has proven himself to be an incredible backup center for Karl-Anthony Towns, particularly during this playoff run. The importance of Robinson's play to head coach Mike Brown's system cannot be understated at all.
That doesn't mean that he's going to be staying in New York. Once an NBA Champion is crowned, the draft is over, and free agency is fully underway, the Knicks might be forced to let Robinson walk, even if they don't want to. There might even be a Celtics-esque fire sale to make the numbers work.
Robinson is not going to the Kings
With Sacramento in the midst of a long-term rebuild process, they get attached to basically every major trade or free agency rumor that pops up. This is particularly true in any situation that allows them to move either Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis, which doesn't apply here at all.
First and foremost, the Kings are also having major salary cap problems. Getting rid of at least one of their biggest contracts is an absolute must before the next season starts, either by trade or buyout. Even then, they certainly won't have the payroll space to bring in someone like Robinson.
The other problem is the number of centers they already have. On top of Sabonis, the Kings have Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Precious Achiuwa. Sacramento is already trying to move Sabonis because he's expensive and unnecessary. Another center won't improve that situation.
Once again, this is mostly just the Kings being attached to any remotely interesting trade or free agency rumor because of the rebuild. This move doesn't make sense for Sacramento. Plus, if the Knicks are going to fight to keep anyone in free agency this offseason, that player will be Robinson.
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