Knicks Finals – With New York set for its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet—two of the Knicks’ top unrestricted free agents—are increasingly viewed around the league as likely return candidates, with the Finals run already shaping how
When the Knicks finally get to the NBA Finals, it won’t just be a celebration of how far they’ve come. It will be a deadline marker for the future—especially for two players whose next contracts could be decided in the shadow of this postseason.
New York is preparing for its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. and the franchise’s playoff success is already expected to influence major roster decisions heading into free agency this summer. Tim Bontemps reported Thursday that impending unrestricted free agents Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet are both increasingly seen around the league as likely return candidates after the Knicks’ dominant run.
For Robinson, the belief centers on timing and fit. Bontemps wrote that both Robinson and Shamet—“the two top unrestricted free agents from this year’s roster”—are likely to come back. and that each would be on two-year deals. The projected structure ties directly to where New York may be headed next season: the team is likely to go well into the second apron before needing to duck back out.
Robinson’s contract could also carry more leverage than most teams will be comfortable trying to match. Bontemps added that Robinson could command a contract above the midlevel exception because of his impact inside New York’s frontcourt rotation alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. In Robinson’s case. the expectation is “a two-year deal above the midlevel exception. ” with other teams likely needing that same mechanism—or finding a way around it—to try to pry him loose.
One Eastern Conference executive also told ESPN that the Knicks’ Finals appearance makes it hard to imagine New York letting Robinson walk in free agency. “You have to bring him back,” the executive said. “If they win the Finals, they’re not losing anybody. And, even if they don’t, I don’t see how they let him walk.”.
Robinson has given the Knicks plenty to justify that argument. The 28-year-old center has provided valuable minutes through the postseason despite playing a limited role off the bench. Across 13 playoff appearances, Robinson is averaging 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 73.7% from the field. His rebounding, rim protection, and physical interior presence have stayed central to New York’s defensive identity.
Shamet’s case is built on the way his efficiency has translated into real game impact. The 29-year-old guard has emerged as one of New York’s most efficient reserve contributors during the playoffs. averaging 5.7 points per game while shooting 55.3% from the field and 60% from 3-point range across 14 postseason games.
His jump has been especially visible during the Knicks’ four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Shamet averaged 9.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 75% from the field and 91.7% from beyond the arc across 19.8 minutes per game.
New York’s offseason conversation, though, won’t fully settle until the stage is set. The Knicks now await the winner of the Western Conference Finals, where the Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 3-2 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs entering Game 6 on Thursday night.
New York Knicks NBA Finals Mitchell Robinson Landry Shamet free agency Tim Bontemps Karl-Anthony Towns Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs
So they’re saying Robinson is basically guaranteed to stay, cool.
I don’t even know what “second apron” means but it sounds expensive lol. If they’re doing two-year deals for both guys that’s kinda wild, hope it works.
Robinson “above the midlevel exception”??? That’s like a fancy way of saying he’ll get paid more than everyone else right? I swear every playoff run turns into cap math and then half the team mysteriously leaves anyway.
Landry Shamet coming back on a two-year deal seems random to me, like did he even do anything this whole run or was that just highlights? And why is the Finals “a deadline marker” like the NBA is some job offer deadline. Also Karl-Anthony Towns?? I thought he was on Minnesota still, so idk.