The New York Knicks are a team that many people are keeping an eye on ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline this season. Their frontcourt has been hit hard by injuries and they could use some reinforcements at the center position.
Starting center Mitchell Robinson, who was having a record-setting season on the glass, made his last appearance on December 8th against the Boston Celtics. After that, it was announced he had to undergo surgery on his ankle and was expected to be sidelined 8-10 weeks.
However, that timeline was seemingly moved once New York applied for a disabled player exception from the league. Applying for that would indicate Robinson won’t be able to return at any point this season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kelly Olynyk, Utah Jazz, New York Knicks Updates
To replace him on the roster, the Knicks signed veteran Taj Gibson. While he is a favorite of head coach Tom Thibodeau and brings invaluable experience and leadership to the team, the Knicks are getting badly outplayed whenever he is on the court.
Gibson has been pressed into duty because Jericho Sims, New York’s third center entering the season, injured his ankle when coming down on Anthony Davis during a jump ball against the Los Angeles Lakers. Isaiah Hartenstein has filled in admirably, but he cannot play 48 minutes per game.
Another move the Knicks made was signing Dmytro Skapintsev from the G League to a two-way deal. However, relying on him, Gibson and Sims to play minutes behind Hartenstein is a risk.
As a result, one NBA insider believes the Knicks could look to make a trade sooner than later. On his Substack newsletter, Marc Stein revealed the perfect trade target for the team; Kelly Olynyk of the Utah Jazz.
“The 6-foot-11 Olynyk, who turns 33 in April, would seemingly make sense as a trade target for the Knicks as well given New York’s acute need for size in the wake of Mitchell Robinson’s ankle injury that is feared to be season-ending,” Stein wrote.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kelly Olynyk, Utah Jazz, New York Knicks Updates
While Olynyk won’t have the defensive impact that Robinson does, he can bring some intriguing qualities to the Knicks. He is an offensive-minded player, something New York hasn’t had at the center position in a long time.
He would diversify the game plan Thibodeau can come up with, especially on the offensive side of the ball. New York would be able to run a more modern offense with Olynyk in the mix as he can provide an impact on that side of the ball with his playmaking and 3-point shooting.
No one is going to be able to replicate the presence Robinson has on defense. But, a player such as Olynyk can provide the Knicks with some size in the frontcourt and a skill set that can help them improve in other areas to make up for their loss of defensive production.
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