The New York Knicks had a quiet trade deadline, with Jericho Sims being the only player moved, bringing in Delon Wright in return. Despite trade speculation, Mitchell Robinson remains with the team.
Attention now shifts to Robinson, the 7-foot rim protector, who is nearing his season debut after months of injury recovery. He’s expected to rejoin the rotation in the coming weeks. According to Karl-Anthony Towns, once Robinson is fully healthy, head coach Tom Thibodeau may introduce a double-big lineup.
“Tall lineup,” Towns said. “It’s gonna be exciting to explore that lineup. I’ll probably have some familiarity from when I played with Rudy (Gobert), so it’s something I can tap into.”
Towns’ floor-spacing ability and perimeter impact will complement Robinson’s interior presence. Thibodeau will likely appreciate the defensive versatility this duo offers, particularly in rim protection and deterring drives to the basket.
However, utilizing a double-big lineup could slow down the Knicks’ pace and disrupt offensive flow. Thibodeau will need to find the right balance between going big and sticking with traditional single-big rotations.
Knicks Keeping Faith in Mitchell Robinson
During a recent press conference, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau addressed the team’s confidence in Mitchell Robinson. Despite being linked to centers like Nikola Vucevic and Jonas Valanciunas ahead of the February 6 trade deadline, the Knicks chose not to pursue a replacement.
“You guys read the tea leaves,” Thibodeau said. “We like our team a lot, we’re excited about Mitch. But we also feel that Ariel and Precious have done a good job. That’s really the way we approached it… We like our team a lot.”
As Robinson works his way back to full health, he’ll need to reestablish his value around the league, as durability has been a recurring concern throughout his career. With the Knicks focused on contending for a championship both this season and beyond, Robinson must prove he can be a key contributor, making an impact on both ends of the floor if he hopes to secure his place in the team’s long-term plans.
Knicks Jalen Brunson Speaks on Delon Wright
Delon Wright joined the New York Knicks ahead of the trade deadline. The 32-year-old veteran guard previously played alongside Jalen Brunson during their time with the Dallas Mavericks. In a recent press conference, Brunson shared his thoughts on reuniting with his former teammate.
“We’ve already said what’s up to each other,” Brunson said. “He was a great teammate in Dallas. I got to know him very well. It’s great to see him.”
This season, Wright has appeared in 26 games, averaging 2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. However, he’s struggled with his scoring efficiency, shooting just 26.8% from the field.
Luckily for the Knicks, Wright is expected to serve as a deep bench option, primarily providing depth as an insurance policy. As long as the roster remains healthy, his scoring struggles shouldn’t pose a significant concern for head coach Tom Thibodeau.