The New York Knicks had an opportunity this off-season to secure a long-term solution at center but instead retained Nerlens Noel and committed to Mitchell Robinson for one more season.
Some might say this is a risky move, considering Robinson played in just 31 games last year and Noel doesn’t offer much does an offensive weapon. However, the team is still optimistic Mitch will reach his potential. Ultimately, the consensus is that they would hate for him to find his groove with another team when he’s only set to earn $1.8 million this year.
In fact, the front office seems so invested in Robinson and confident in his abilities, they are already open to extending him before the next off-season rolls around.
According to Marc Berman of the NY Post, Knicks’ president Leon Rose said “as long as it’s not crazy,” the team would be interested in extending Mitchell Robinson before the 2021-22 season commences.
If Robinson has learned anything from players like Dennis Schroder, waiting and betting on yourself can backfire in a big way and potentially lose millions. However, he also is extremely confident the upcoming year will offer bountiful rewards based on his hard work.
Robinson has indicated he’s increased not only his strength but also his frame, including added muscle mass. Coming off a campaign where he suffered a fractured hand and foot, it would be a risk for both the Knicks and Mitchell to agree on a long-term extension.
When healthy, though, Robinson is a quality defender that has elite potential in the category. He’s capable of guarding the perimeter and also using his physicality to contain power forwards and centers in the paint. Most reference his rookie season when he recorded 2.4 blocks per contest, a career-high.
The three-year veteran has the ability to take a chance on himself, and if it pans out, the result could be lucrative. Alternatively, the Knicks would give him a middling contract for multiple years that could underwhelm his production. This is a decision plenty of players struggle with, but based on Robinson’s recent confidence on social media, I get the sense he’s willing to risk it on his growth this off-season.