New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson had been one of the most dominant centers in the NBA through early December. He was a monster on the offensive glass and the anchor of the team’s defense. When it was announced that he had to undergo ankle surgery, it was a huge blow to the team.
In need of some help in the frontcourt, the Knicks turned to a reliable NBA veteran; Taj Gibson. A favorite of head coach Tom Thibodeau, Gibson was signed as frontcourt depth to become the No. 3 center, a role that was previously occupied by Jericho Sims, who was going to get his chance in the rotation with Robinson sidelined.
Sims’ spot in the rotation didn’t last long as he injured his ankle during a jump ball, landing on Anthony Davis as he came down. That thrust Gibson into the rotation for spot minutes behind Isaiah Hartenstein.
While Gibson had his moments, such as a blocked shot against former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on Christmas, it was clear that he wasn’t going to be a viable option for the team’s rotation. Gibson had a few tricks up his sleeve still, but the Knicks were losing the minutes he was playing by a wide margin.
His last appearance on the court was December 30th against the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks were severely short-handed for the game as they had completed a trade with the Toronto Raptors earlier that afternoon.
Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett were on their way north of the border with OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn coming to New York. The Knicks now had another center they could play ahead of Gibson and Sims was healthy enough to jump him in the rotation as well.
With three healthy big men on the roster, Gibson’s services were no longer needed. With contracts becoming guaranteed around the NBA earlier this week, the Knicks opted to waive Gibson and open up a roster spot.
“Taj stepped up in a big way to help our team this season and has had an immeasurable impact on our organization both on and off the court throughout his time with the Knicks,” team president Leon Rose said in a statement.
Gibson is the consummate professional, the kind of veteran that every team would love to have in their locker room. He had a lasting impact on the Knicks, even during his most recent three-week stint with the team.
A quote like that from the team president is all you need to know about how important Gibson was. While it was certainly not an easy decision to move on from him, it was one that the Knicks had to make.
By releasing Gibson, New York now has an open roster spot. That will give them some flexibility and maneuverability as we move toward the NBA trade deadline, one the Knicks are expected to be active during.
Having that roster spot will help them execute trades as they can do 2-for-1 or 3-for-2 deals, similar to the one they completed with the Raptors. If no such deal is found, New York could be active on the buyout market, looking to bring in a veteran who wants to help a team chase a ring.
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