New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson Has 60 Million Reasons To Stay On The Floor

By: Mark T. Wilson

The New York Knicks for the past 2 seasons tried to figure out what to do with Mitchell Robinson. Well, this offseason, they finally made a decision. The trade deadline has been one of worry for the 24-year-old center and rightfully so. With the Knicks looking to get more defensive, the clear answer was to lock up their best defender. The Knicks and Mitchell agreed to a new 4-year $60M contract which fits right in with their youth movement.

Normally, the Knicks front office would have found a way to screw all this up. Up-and-coming talent would have been shipped out the door for a bigger name. But these are not the same Knicks from years back. Tom Thibodeau has installed a winning attitude and the players are all on board. Now, it’s all about chemistry, and for Robinson, it’s putting it all together on both ends. Most importantly, finding a way to stay on the floor when the game matters.

Robinson, for all his defense and rebounding, has averaged just 23.6 minutes per game. In that span, he averaged 8.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. If Robinson can somehow learn to play under control and up those minutes to 33+, there is an All-Star nod in his future.

What’s staggering is that in his short minutes, Robinson is very effective. However, the downside with Robinson is his knack for wanting to block EVERYTHING. For his career, Robinson averages 3 fouls per game. Yes, 6 is the number to get tossed but how can a coach depend on a guy who’s often in foul trouble?

There is no way the Knicks can keep Robinson in during crucial stretches knowing that Robinson is an offensive rebound attempt away from grabbing a 4th foul in the third quarter. What the Knicks are hoping here is that with a new contract, Robinson can learn to play under control more than he has in the past.

The era of big men dominating the paint is not as it once was. Robinson is limited offensively but that doesn’t mean he’s invaluable. He does fit well with Julius Randle in the frontcourt which allows Randle to play a stretch 4 role. Now, with the addition of point guard Jalen Brunson, Robinson could be in store for a breakout year with more lobs and better entry passes.

But there is one more hurdle that Robinson has to overcome this year.

The New York Knicks not only snagged Brunson, but they also signed backup Center Isaiah Hartenstein from the Los Angeles Clippers on a 2-year $16M deal. This signing is huge as the kicks now have a true backup but it also puts added pressure on Robinson to perform. Think about that. The Knicks front office signed Robinson for $15M per and Hartenstein for $8M per.

There is a good chance that Hartenstein could very well outplay Robinson. Last season, while with the Clippers, Hartenstein averaged 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in just 17.9 minutes per game. While his defense is not on Robinson’s level, Hartenstein did average 1.1 blocks per game. And to complicate things further for Robinson, Hartenstein shot 62 percent from the floor. But he’s another player that tends to find himself riding the pine due to foul trouble.

The New York Knicks have two good centers in the paint, but both have their flaws. The job is Mitchell Robinson’s to lose. He has the money and the chemistry, but does he have the ability to put it all together this coming season?