New York Knicks: 3 reasons Mitchell Robinson was a good pick

2. Fit alongside to Kristaps Porzingis

With every move that the Knicks front office makes, they have to ask themselves one question: How does this player fit alongside Kristaps Porzingis? Porzingis is the foundation of the organization and the player they want to build around. Kevin Knox fit the bill as a good fit alongside Porzingis, and so does Robinson.

When the Zinger was selected, the thinking was that he would eventually move over to play center. That could still happen, but given his injury concerns, he may be better suited to play power forward. If that is where he ultimately remains, he would be an excellent fit alongside Robinson.

Robinson has shown he has elite athleticism around the rim on both ends of the court. Offensively, he finishes above the rim with ease, giving the Knicks an inside presence on pick-and-rolls. Porzingis, meanwhile, has shown that he is most comfortable on the perimeter. Offensively, they would be able to play off of each other with ease.

Defensively, the Knicks would have two players that look the part of elite rim protectors. Both are athletic enough to hold their own on the perimeter in a switching defense. Robinson also showcased great instincts rebounding, an area that Porzingis has to improve in despite being 7’3”. That is why Enes Kanter has been a good fit alongside the Unicorn in their time together.

A pairing of Robinson and Porzingis would go against the direction that the NBA is heading, as teams are using smaller and smaller lineups. However, both are modern big men that could get the job done playing alongside each other given their strengths and weaknesses.