The New York Knicks appear unlikely to re-sign Mitchell Robinson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. As the team's longest-tenured player, Robinson’s potential departure would leave a notable gap at the center position behind newly acquired Karl-Anthony Towns.

Owner James Dolan has emphasized maintaining financial flexibility under the NBA’s second salary cap apron, which has guided the Knicks’ offseason approach, including their draft and player personnel decisions. Robinson earned just under $13 million against the Knicks’ salary cap last season. Despite concerns regarding his free-throw shooting, injury history, and inconsistent availability, Robinson is expected to attract offers in a similar or higher range as a free agent, likely exceeding what New York is willing or able to pay.

Should Robinson sign elsewhere, the Knicks will need to identify cost-effective options to serve as backup center. Several potential candidates have been discussed:

Yves Pons Missi, a 6-foot-11 rim protector drafted 21st overall by New Orleans in 2024, remains under contract with the Pelicans. He is scheduled to earn about $3.5 million next season, with a team option for 2027-28. Though the Knicks showed some trade interest in Missi ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, no move was completed. Acquiring him would require a trade with New Orleans.

Andre Drummond, a veteran free agent who spent the past two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, is another candidate. Known for his rebounding and shot-blocking ability, Drummond frequently played significant minutes alongside Joel Embiid, stepping into a more prominent role during Embiid’s absences. Now 32, Drummond is considered to be in the later stages of his career but is still viewed as a serviceable backup. The Knicks previously eliminated Philadelphia in the playoffs’ second round, where Drummond featured prominently.

Precious Achiuwa, who spent one and a half seasons with New York before moving on, is also a free agent possibility. Often deployed as an undersized center or power forward, Achiuwa grew into a valuable bench contributor during his Knicks tenure. He has expressed camaraderie with the team on social media during their recent successful run.

Goga Bitadze, who plays for the Orlando Magic and is under contract for one more year at roughly $7.6 million, is a physical presence standing nearly seven feet tall and weighing 250 pounds. His regular season and playoff workloads were comparable to Robinson’s last season. Any pursuit of Bitadze would necessitate a trade, as he is not a free agent.

While the Knicks will likely struggle to fully replace Robinson’s impact when healthy, management appears to be exploring these more affordable alternatives to fulfill the backup center role and operate within budget constraints. The coming weeks should clarify the team’s plans as free agency and trade discussions develop.