Knicks May Already Have a Mitchell Robinson Replacement Option

The New York Knicks are in the heat of the Eastern Conference Semifinals taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers, so it may seem like the NBA draft isn’t something the franchise should focus on right now.

But, if the Knicks want to continue to play at the high-caliber level they they’ve been playing, they need to invest in, and focus on, new talent. So, now is the perfect time to look ahead to the draft.

The Knicks have the No. 24 overall selection in the draft, and they could use it in a variety of ways. They’re blessed, in that they don’t have a glaring need, so they can get creative with their draft selection.

In a mock draft from NBC Sports published on Monday, May 18, Raphielle Johnson and Kurt Helin have the Knicks going with center Henri Veesaar out of North Carolina.

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Veesaar spent three seasons at Arizona before going to North Carolina to get more time on the court. In the piece, Johnson notes that after that, the 7-foot center scored second-team All-ACC honors last season, and “he can offer some value as a facilitator and floor-spacer.”

Johnson adds: “The Knicks selecting Veesaar would give them some security in the frontcourt, as Mitchell Robinson will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.”

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My Analysis: Henri Veesaar to the Knicks

Johnson names Veesaar as a good selection for the Knicks with Robinson likely walking after this season, and that’s a good point, but the player can bring even more to the Knicks’ roster than being a fill-in. He’d be a solid addition to add frontcourt depth at the low cost of a rookie, so there’s really no downside to the Knicks going with Veesaar in the first round.

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 7:28 PM.