2018 NBA Draft: 3 options for Los Angeles Lakers with Cleveland Cavaliers’ pick

Mitchell Robinson, C, USA

Mitchell Robinson is a wild card of sorts when it comes to the 2018 NBA Draft. A former five-star recruit and top high school prospect, the mountainous center decided to forego college this year, choosing instead of train for the NBA on his own.

It’s a risky move, seeing as that won’t give scouts anything to look at in terms of Robinson’s work against top-tier college talent. However, if you focus on his high school work and physical profile, it’s easy to understand why the NBA Draft community as a whole is thoroughly intrigued.

Now it is worth noting, as I alluded to previously, there isn’t a ton of film to go off of with Robinson. Most of what’s available on YouTube is highlights, which don’t paint a clear picture of the positives and negatives of a particular player. Even in the highlights, Robinson towers over everyone — how could he not look like a man among boys as a 7’1″ high school center?

Still, there’s a reason he’s on the NBA’s radar. Robinson has the makings of an excellent rim protector, uses his size well to clean the boards and is very fond of the put-back dunk. The kid excels at racking up blocks in bunches, as evidenced by a 20-block game during his junior year (via MaxPreps).

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Put simply, Robinson is a high-risk, high-reward prospect. That’s why he could easily be available when the Lakers pick in the mid- to late-20s. If he’s still on the board, they’d be wise to call his name and add some serious athleticism and length to their frontcourt.