The New York Knicks are heading into the NBA Finals still uncertain whether they will face the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder when play begins on June 3.
While that question remains unanswered, reports have emerged indicating the franchise has already made key decisions regarding two of its most important free agents.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported on Thursday that big man Mitchell Robinson and guard Landry Shamet are both expected to remain with the Knicks this summer.
“Robinson and guard Landry Shamet — the two top unrestricted free agents from this year’s roster — the belief is that coming off New York’s dominant run to the NBA Finals, both will be back,” Bontemps shared.
Bontemps added that both players will likely be signed to two-year deals as the Knicks are expected to go well into the second apron next season and the following one before needing to duck back out.
Shamet has been a standout performer during what has become an 11-game postseason winning streak for the Knicks this playoff run.
He scored 15 points in New York’s 108-94 Game 3 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals when forward OG Anunoby was sidelined with a right hamstring strain.
Shamet then put on a historic display against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, shooting an incredible 11-of-12 from three-point range as the Knicks completed a sweep.
Robinson has also drawn strong praise from within the organisation, with Knicks head coach Mike Brown recently insisting that the big man “can start for any team in the league,” according to the New York Post’s Zach Braziller.
Robinson averaged 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 14.2 minutes per game during the playoffs as part of the team’s centre rotation alongside Karl-Anthony Towns.
“In Robinson’s case,” Bontemps continued, “that’s likely a two-year deal above the midlevel exception — again, the main mechanism that other teams will likely have to try to pry him out of New York — to keep him as part of the team’s center rotation alongside Karl-Anthony Towns.”
The sense of stability surrounding the roster was further reinforced by comments from an unnamed Eastern Conference executive, who told Bontemps the Knicks are “not losing anybody” regardless of how the NBA Finals plays out.
With both Robinson and Shamet seemingly destined to stay, the Knicks appear to be building for sustained success as they prepare for the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
