What an up-and-down season it’s been for the Chicago Bulls—and not the usual kind. They opened hot before cooling off dramatically, enduring two separate five-game skids. In truth, it’s felt less like a roller coaster and more like one sharp climb followed by an equally sharp drop.
If it wasn’t obvious in the offseason, it should be now: the Bulls need to begin a roster overhaul. There’s no single fix for this team. Chicago’s offense is middling, its defense is among the league’s worst, and with the February trade deadline approaching, the front office should be focused on identifying which players are worth keeping long-term.
Conversely, as they sort out which of their own players are worth keeping, the Bulls must also survey the rest of the league to find potential difference-makers, players who can help both in the present and in the future.
Rather than chasing a splashy move like trading for Anthony Davis, a move that would strip away depth and mortgage the future, the Bulls should prioritize smaller, smarter deals, protect their picks, and embrace the reality of a bottom-tier reset.
After highlighting defensive ace Jonathan Isaac last week as an attainable target who has fallen out of favor with his current team, there’s another player who fits the same mold—a strong defender whose role is no longer as secure as it once was. That player is New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson.
Mitchell Robinson’s future in New York is uncertain
The Knicks’ situation couldn’t be more different from that of the Bulls. New York is 14–7, sitting third in the Eastern Conference, and has won seven of its last ten. But that’s also the reality of the Knicks’ window. Every New York starter is between 28 and 30 years old, and the roster is built to win right now, especially considering it’s one of the most expensive groups in the league.
Moreover, the Knicks’ core five are all under contract beyond this season, meaning some cost-cutting moves will eventually be necessary. As you can probably see where this is headed, Robinson could become a casualty of that financial squeeze. The 7-foot center isn’t signed past this year, and with his next deal likely to land in the mid-teens annually, he may be too expensive for New York to bring back.
Robinson is averaging just 17.2 minutes per game this season and was recently moved into a reserve role. Since shifting to the bench, his playing time has stayed about the same, but his usage has dipped, and the Knicks have actually performed better with Josh Hart in the starting lineup, going 4–1 over their last five games.
It’s not as if Robinson was ever truly indispensable as a starter in New York. Sure, the roster includes five-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns at center, but beyond that, the Knicks boast strong rebounding stats, a top-15 defensive rating, and allow the fifth-fewest points in the paint per game. While Robinson undoubtedly contributes to those strengths, he may not be essential. His on/off splits don’t impress. In fact, the team’s defense has been statistically better with him off the floor.
A low-cost solution
Given all of the above, Robinson could be on his way out, and it might not require waiting until the offseason. The Knicks would almost certainly prefer to get something in return rather than risk losing him for nothing. If that’s the case, Chicago’s odds of acquiring him aren’t necessarily high, and the cost itself wouldn’t be steep; it likely wouldn’t take much to pry the 27-year-old from New York.
There’s even a chance the Knicks could trade Robinson straight up for Jalen Smith. At $9 million, Smith would save New York roughly $4 million, and is signed for an additional season beyond this one. Perhaps more importantly, he offers some of what Towns provides as a floor spacer, meaning the Knicks’ offensive philosophy wouldn’t need to change with Smith on the floor—unlike with Robinson, who is essentially a non-offensive threat.
While Robinson’s offensive limitations might give some teams pause, they shouldn’t concern the Bulls. Chicago needs a rim-running big, someone who can catch lobs on offense and protect the paint on defense. Robinson’s uneven role in New York’s rotation should have the Bulls salivating at the chance to make a low-cost addition that addresses their biggest need.