New York Knicks: Ranking the young core by trade value
By Chip Murphy
2. Mitchell Robinson
Mitchell Robinson is already one of the league’s best shot blockers. Last season, he averaged 2.4 blocks per game and set the rookie franchise record for blocks with 161.
Only four players have blocked more shots than Mitchell Robinson since he entered the league two seasons ago. Brook Lopez, Hassan Whiteside, Myles Turner, and Rudy Gobert all logged more than 3,500 minutes during that span while Robinson hasn’t reached the 3,000 mark.
In a limited span, whether it’s due to foul trouble or coaching decisions, Robinson is already becoming a game-changing player for the Knicks on both ends of the court.
This season, Mitch’s presence is felt, but his absence is even more apparent. According to Cleaning The Glass, the Knicks were 8.8 points per 100 possessions better with Robinson on the court than with him on the bench.
When Robinson is on the court, the Knicks play like a 38-win team. When he sits, they play like an 18-win team. To put that into context, the Knicks had a league-worst 17-65 record last season while the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Sacramento Kings each narrowly missed the playoffs with 39 wins.
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Robinson’s dunks have made him a fan favorite in New York. If the big man gets a lob throwing point guard as DeAndre Jordan had with Chris Paul, or Clint Capela had with James Harden, he can reach his full potential on offense.
Robinson is a tremendous talent but has flaws like any young player. Mitch’s lack of a jump shot or ability to create for others makes it difficult to build a team around him.
The harsh reality is that big men who can’t shoot are viewed as the most expendable players in today’s NBA. Capela just saw that first hand in Houston.
There’s no question that Robinson can win a Defensive Player of the Year Award if he remains on this track. He’ll probably even be able to get you a first-round pick or another prospect, but his lack of a jumper will make it difficult for him to be the centerpiece of a deal for a disgruntled star.