NBA Rumors: Eastern Conference Rival Targeting Knicks Center

If the New York Knicks aim to retain pending free agent Mitchell Robinson, they've got until June 30 to lock him up to a contract extension. Otherwise, they'll be facing some competition for the 24-year-old's services. 

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Chicago Bulls "are continuing to do their research on Robinson ahead of the July 1 free-agency period." Berman adds that the Bulls could be the Knicks' main competitors for the center. 

One of the Bulls' weaknesses this past season was interior defense. They believe that Robinson playing the frontline alongside Nikola Vucevic could address that. 

Berman notes that the Bulls would have about $49M in cap space, pending what they do about their own free agent Zach LaVine.

Robinson is said to be seeking somewhere in the range of $11M per year on a new deal. The 4th-year center finished strong down the stretch this past season, and completed his year averaging 8.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks—the latter placing him 4th in the NBA.

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