Mitchell Robinson took a big step in his recovery on Monday. The Knicks' big man has officially been cleared for contact, head coach Tom Thibodeau said. Robinson still hasn't been cleared for full practices just yet, however -- he'll need to get through a couple more steps before participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages with contact.

Robinson has found his name in trade rumors leading up to the deadline because he's injured so often. The center is also making $14.3 million this season. In 2023-24, he also played in just 31 games, averaging 5.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per outing. That being said, Robinson is definitely a defensive anchor for the Knicks when actually healthy.

After the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis and additional pieces, their roster remains in need of significant upgrades if they hope to contend for a championship in the LeBron James era.