Mitchell Robinson

What is the New York Knicks pitch to Kawhi Leonard in free agency?

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Can the New York Knicks convince Kawhi Leonard to come to New York?

The free agent market in the NBA is one of pure unpredictability. The New York Knicks will see players expected to join their ranks take their talents elsewhere and others agree to compete in the Mecca. My initial thoughts are – Kevin Durant won’t wind up being with the Knicks, but that won’t stop them from pursuing Toronto Raptors star, Kawhi Leonard.

As much as Leonard enjoys winning, he seems to enjoy the challenge just as much. Location doesn’t mean as much as holding the trophy at the end of the NBA finals, yet reports have stated he’s interested in going to Los Angeles.

The Knicks will start their pursuit with a disadvantage, but their game-plan should be to convince him that he can solidify his name at the top by leading a team of youth and becoming a mentor as well as a winner.

The New York Knicks need to emphasize their direction and the challenge:

Having youngsters like RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and Damyeon Dotson to work with, Leonard might be intrigued by the leadership role and true challenge of New York. In addition, the Knicks have two max-contract slots to fill, which would allow them to pair Kawhi with another talented option.

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Think — Kawhi and D’Angelo Russell. Two elite talents that can work well together. Given Kyrie Irving ends up in Brooklyn, the Knicks will need to find talent at the point guard position, which is where Russell enters the picture.

Coming off an All-Star performance in 2018, the free agent will be looking to earn a pretty penny, and the reality is, the Knicks, residing up the block and a quick ride on the 4 train, are a good option. The point guard has already stated he wants to stay in the Big Apple, which gives the Knicks an advantage.

It will be interesting to see how they approach free agency and if Leonard is actually a possibility. It’s expected they will earn a meeting with him, but convincing him to lead a team of youth will be the difficult part.

Should the New York Knicks pursue Willie Cauley-Stein in free agency?

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Could the New York Knicks pursue Willie Cauley-Stein in free agency?

With the New York Knicks heading into the free agency period in a few weeks, it begs the question – who will be available and a legitimate option?

Beyond the superstars the Knicks will be convincing to come to New York, players like Sacramento’s Willie Cauley-Stein could be a good option to help build around the already existing youth.

Willie’s agent has stated that his client want s a “fresh start” after four seasons with the Kings. He’s currently a restricted free agent, and the Kings have until June 30th to extend a $6.2 million offer to the center.

Could he be a solid option for the Knicks alongside Mitchell Robinson? Let’s take a look.

Averaging 11.9 points-per-game in 2018, Cauley-Stein represents a solid big man that can make an instant impact in the paint. Robinson, going into his second-year, could benefit from having a veteran presence around that can help him elevate his game and create more competition.

Utilizing two big men down low in certain sets could be beneficial to add a defensive presence. Cauley-Stein is not only good around the rim, but he’s defensively stout and can pass the ball well.

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He tends to excel in fast-paced offenses that run the floor well and prefer to operate in the paint. The Knicks aren’t the most sound shooting team, which could see them focus on dominating the interior and crowding the rim.

Despite his abilities, Willie has struggled with inconsistencies throughout his career — last season, he averaged 17.4 points in October but saw his numbers dip. He would be a good presence on a young Knicks team, and it would offer him a fresh start in a big media atmosphere. It could bring the best out of the former 6th overall pick.

Proof the New York Knicks are all in on RJ Barrett at No. 3

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The New York Knicks are considering drafting RJ Barrett with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

With RJ Barrett playing second-fiddle to Zion Williamson at Duke, it allowed him to slip behind in the draft pick race, as he’s now the expected 3rd overall selection to the New York Knicks.

The reality is, Barrett would’ve been the top pick if Zion didn’t take the college scene by storm with his abnormal athleticism and ability. The tenacious scorer and defender, Barrett, has the skill-set to be the top pick with ease, in fact, most consider him a foundational player — an option that you build upon and design your offense after.

The New York Knicks need to keep their priorities straight:

With the slew of talent added by the Knicks in recent years, it’s important they focus on their youth agenda moving forward. Adding a max-contract player is important and necessary, but building around players like Barrett, Kevin Knox, and Mitchell Robinson should be prioritized.

However, the reason and proof behind the Knicks being all in on Barrett is written on the wall. General manager Scott Perry didn’t even blink an eye towards the Pelicans in a potential Anthony Davis trade.

They offered the Pelicans a lackluster deal that would’ve seen them acquire Davis on a steal while also giving up the 3rd overall pick. In other terms, it was an offering that was never going to happen, but if it did, it would’ve been a huge surprise, and win.

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Recently, the Atlanta Hawks offered the 8th and 10th overall picks to trade up to No. 3, an offer the Knicks laughed at all the way to their draft board. The proof is in the pudding, folks. The Duke star is nearly a lock for the Knicks, as he should be. Averaging 22.6 points-per-game and 4.3 assists-per-game, his attributes will help develop a Knicks team that has struggled to earn wins in recent years.

Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson Has The Perfect Mentor In New York

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

With the 2018-19 NBA season sneaking up on us ever so quickly, the New York Knicks are preparing to change the narrative of a hungry franchise. The past few years have been difficult for the Knicks, as they have struggled to earn wins and put together a balanced team. Signing Tim Hardaway Jr. and Joakim Noah mark two potentially devastating blows to the cap-space, limiting the potential action of the new management in free agency.

Luckily, teams are seldom built through free agency, but rather the development of youth. For the Knicks, this is exactly what we’re going to witness.

The drafting of Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson marks the beginning of a new era – one where New York can enjoy the growth of two young prospects and not the signing of aging veterans. Knox is a dynamic forward that can penetrate the rim and score from any position on the floor.

Robinson is a big-man looking to take over after the inevitable departure of Noah. He’s a lanky player that is stellar on defense and well-rounded on offense.

The influence of a mentor on New York Knicks rookie, Mitchell Robinson:

Having a mentor for a young player is essential, and while Noah’s contract has been a burden for the Knicks, he has much to offer when it comes to the growth of Robinson.

In the prime of his career, Noah was averaging between 10-12 points per game and over one block. He was menace around the rim and had the player intelligence to control the game from the paint. This is the type of experience he has to offer Mitchell, and it will only help him grow into the player he’s meant to be.

While Enes Kanter is expected to start at center, Robinson cannot be ruled out to earn some serious playing time. In fact, it’s possible he becomes the second-choice backup after Kanter.

Robinson set Summer League records for offensive rebounds and blocks per-game, further promoting his skill-set and ability to transition to the next level. After watching his Summer League tape, you can visibly see his vision and patience in and around the rim. He always seems to be in the right spot at the right time. He will only continue to improve with the right guidance and physical growth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EoutQ1kjjU

New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson Expected To Emerge As Starter

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New York Knicks‘ rookie big-man, Mitchell Robinson, skirted the system with his eligibility in college and want to play in the NBA as a professional. His move to the big-leagues has put his abilities into question, being that he scarcely played against collegiate talent. Despite this lack of experience, Robinson has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in the Summer League, and expectations are high leading up to the 2018-19 season.

Mitchell Robinson’s trainer’s expectations for the New York Knicks rookie:

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Robinson’s trainer, Marcell Scott, believes that Robinson will secure a starting role sooner rather than later.

“I knew once they saw Mitchell on the court and saw all the stuff he brings to the table, the G-League would be eliminated from the conversation,’’ Scott told The Post in a phone interview. “I honestly think at the halfway mark, at the All-Star break, Mitch will be starting.’’

The second-round pick was expected to be a lottery pick given his stayed in school and played his freshman season. He chose to forgo that experience and jump right into the dog-house. Now, he will feature on a Knicks team that has rookie Kevin Knox and star forward, Kristaps Porzingis.

Head coach David Fizdale is helping put together a solid foundation in New York, signing Mario Hezonja and retaining Enes Kanter. There’s no lack of talent on the roster, but maybe a lack of chemistry. It’s accepted that the Knicks will be moving through a “rebuilding” year in the coming months, despite the drafting off two promising players. The future of the Knicks is 2-3 years down the line, and if Porzingis can ride out the wait, he could very well enjoy bringing success back to a team that has struggled for years.

New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson Impresses Coach Fizdale

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New York Knicks, David Fizdale

New York Knicks rookie big man, Mitchell Robinson, has spent the better part of a year not playing organized basketball prior to being drafted. Despite his lack of true game experience, Robinson came out firing in-front of coach David Fizdale, further justifying the drafting of the 7-foot-1 rim-runner.

“Man, is he athletic,” Fizdale said, according to Newsday. “Kid’s got pretty good feel for the game. He’s in great shape. And athletically, he’s a freak. He’s in the one percentile of high flyers and runners. It’s just not many guys that’s that athletic.”

Robinson’s decision:

Robinson was once considered a first-round draft piece before dropping out of Western Kentucky and taking on the NBA process on his own.

“Yes, sir,” Robinson said. “Sitting out the whole year was tough for half the year. But then time got close and my mind started getting right, like ‘I’m about to start playing again, so keep working hard.’

For a player to not experience college basketball and neglect any real organized basketball is hard to believe, but for Mitchell, it was just part of his process.

Coach Fizdale has compared the lengthy big-man to Clint Capela, a big-time shot blocker and dunk connoisseur.

“I want to encourage him to be great at what he’s good at right now,” Fizdale said. “Can we just get him a game? His game right now is running and jumping. So anything that has to do with that, how good can I make him at that first?”

While Robinson acquires a ton of raw talent, he’s still a project in the works. He will need to work on his post game and jump shot if he wants to become an effective NBA player. For the Knicks, he can be a high-profile big-man, but it will be interesting to see how they develop him and what skills they favor in regard to their scheme and roster. I would expect him to get some decent playing time this year, yet still hitting the necessary rookie speed-bumps.