Mitchell Robinson unlikely to return to Knicks as team faces second apron crunch

The longest-tenured Knick probably won’t get a chance at an NBA title repeat.Mitchell Robinson is unlikely to return to the Knicks next season, a source told The Post’s Stefan Bondy on Thursday night.Robinson is an unrestricted free agent, and with Knicks owner James Dolan making clear he is not willing to go into the second apron, it was always going to be questionable whether the big man would be back in New York.

Dolan said last week during an appearance on “The Carton Show” on WFAN that going into the second apron — due to its restrictive nature in free agency — would not be an option for the newest NBA champs.“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do.One of them is the second apron.

Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said.“I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”The second-apron strategy was apparent in the NBA draft this week when the Knicks traded out of the first round and thus did not have to pay a guaranteed contract.The Knicks will still have other free agent questions to face, including from Landry Shamet, who is also an unrestricted free agent.

Earlier this week, The Post reported the Knicks are nearing a multiyear deal worth more than $10 million for Mohamed Diawara to return.If this is indeed the end for Robinson in the Big Apple, it ends a run that started in 2018 when he was taken as a second-round pick out of Western Kentucky.Celebrate with the New York Post highlighting Parade Day in NYC for the 2026 New York Knicks with a reprint of our issue from Friday, June 19.

Whether or not you were one of the millions of people who attended the parade, this framed cover from our June 19, 2026 issue is a must-have keepsake for any Knicks fan.This high-definition replica plaque is designed to keep the energy of that championship night alive forever on your office wall, fan cave, or living room shelf.

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