The New York Knicks are facing a dilemma. Mitchell Robinson‘s free agency looms after the 2025–26 season, and the clock is ticking. Maintaining the defensive identity that powered last season’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals is key — but long-term questions remain. Could a new anchor in the middle be the final piece to their championship puzzle?
A potential solution, proposed by SI contributor Rohan Raman, could check all the right boxes: a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks that sends Walker Kessler to Madison Square Garden.
The Proposed Trade
Knicks receive:
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Walker Kessler (from Jazz)
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Kevin Love (from Jazz)
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Svi Mykhailiuk (from Jazz)
Jazz receive:
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Mitchell Robinson (from Knicks)
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Pacome Dadiet (from Knicks)
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2026 first-round pick (from Knicks)
Hawks receive:
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Tyler Kolek (from Knicks)
Robinson 2.0 — But With a Higher Ceiling
Parting with Robinson would be tough — no doubt. The 27-year-old has anchored the Knicks’ interior defense for years, and when healthy, he’s a difference-maker. But his injury history and looming payday raise fair concerns. That’s where Kessler enters the picture — essentially Robinson 2.0, only younger and possibly more impactful.
Like Robinson, Kessler is an elite shot-blocker who alters everything at the rim. He averaged 2.4 blocks per game last season and posted a 7.4% block percentage, a number that stacks up with the league’s best.
Rebounding? He might already be ahead. Kessler led the NBA in offensive boards with 4.6 per game. In playoff basketball, those extra possessions matter.
Smart Business, Knicks Culture
This deal isn’t just about swapping bigs — it’s about building for May and June.
Love brings championship DNA and veteran savvy. He won’t be playing 30 minutes a night, but he knows what it takes to win, and that kind of presence can stabilize a young locker room when the pressure ramps up.
Mykhailiuk, a former Knick, gives the team much-needed shooting depth and spacing — another playoff necessity. He’s fresh off a title with the Celtics and could easily slide into a playoff rotation spot if needed.
Then there’s the financial angle. While Robinson’s next deal could get pricey, Kessler is still on a team-friendly contract and remains extension-eligible. Locking him in early gives the Knicks flexibility and long-term control. It’s a forward-thinking move for a front office aiming to keep the window open.
The Knicks’ Path Forward
With the Boston Celtics expected to be without Jayson Tatum and the Indiana Pacers missing Tyrese Haliburton, the East is more open than it’s been in years. That makes this a perfect time for the Knicks to push all-in.
This isn’t just a lateral move. It’s a potential upgrade — a younger, elite defender who might already be a better rebounder and offers the same vertical threat on offense. Add in a title-tested vet and a reliable shooter, and this is the type of move that can raise a team’s ceiling without gutting its core.
With Madison Square Garden starved for a title, this might be the move that brings it all together.
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