Mitchell Robinson

Many expected the 2020-21 season to be Mitchell Robinson's breakout year. Unfortunately, nagging injuries resulted in Robinson appearing in only 31 of New York's 79 regular season and playoff games, despite starting the Knicks' first 27 contests. The big center was productive in those first 27 starts, averaging 8.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. That said, those scoring and block numbers were actually down versus 2019-20, but he did have a spike in boards. Coach Tom Thibodeau's defensive scheme prefers centers to stay focused on the rim and not sell out for the glamorous block. That approach certainly helped New York's defensive and rebounding efforts, but Robinson's 1.5 blocks per game were a far cry from the 2.4 he swatted as a rookie in 2018-19. Robinson's 27 game streak ended in mid-February when he fractured his right hand, which resulted in surgery. He returned for four games in late March, but then broke a bone in his right foot, which also led to surgery and forced Robinson's absence for the rest of the season. With Robinson out, backup Nerlens Noel played 27.6 minutes per game and averaged 5.9 points, 7.0 boards and 2.3 blocks per game, good enough for New York to re-sign Noel to a three-year deal. The signing was important, since it is currently unknown when Robinson can return to action in 2021-22. In late May, Thibodeau reported that Robinson was "several steps away" from a return.

Despite increasing his scoring and rebounding somewhat from his rookie season while leading the NBA with a 74.2 field-goal percentage, Robinson's sophomore campaign was a bit of a bust fantasy-wise. Instead of taking the next step as one of the NBA's elite shot-blockers, he saw his average in that category dip from 2.4 as a rookie to 2.0 in 2019-20 despite somewhat increased minutes. He needs those blocks for fantasy purposes, as last year's averages of 9.7 points and 7.0 rebounds don't really play in fantasy otherwise. Even that field-goal percentage doesn't do fantasy managers a ton of good when he's averaging less than six shots per game. Furthermore, Robinson still struggles with foul trouble and hasn't established consistent dominance on the boards. That said, there's still a world of upside here. Nerlens Noel and rookie Daniel Oturu are Robinson's only competition at center for the Knicks. If Robinson can find a way to stop racking up fouls and see extra minutes as a result, he's a good candidate to lead the league in blocks while averaging close to a double-double, which would make him a tremendous value in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts.

The 36th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Robinson is coming off an impressive rookie campaign. Despite playing in just 66 games and seeing only 20.6 minutes per contest, Robinson ranked fourth in the league in total blocks (161), blocking 2.4 per game and 4.3 per 36 minutes. He started 19 games, but really showed off his potential during the 10 contests in which he saw at least 30 minutes. In those games, he averaged 12.6 points on 73.1 percent shooting, 13.0 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 1.4 steals. Heading into 2019-20, Robinson figures to be the Knicks' starting center, though the front office wasted no time finding plenty of reserve options. Foul trouble may keep Robinson from garnering 30 minutes on a consistent basis, but he's already established himself as an elite rim-protector and great rebounder. It remains to be seen how much he can improve his game, but even if he's simply given more run, he should be a lock for a mid-round, if not earlier, selection in most fantasy drafts.

Despite pulling out of college and electing to prepare for an NBA career before putting anything on tape, Robinson has the measurables to draw the attention of any GM. He's a true seven-footer with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and has the athleticism to make plays that many other guys of his size can't. That peaked the Knicks interest enough to make him the 36th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Considering the lack of college competition, Robinson will likely come in a bit raw, but he does appear to be joining a team where playing time could be available right away. The Knicks are set to be without superstar Kristaps Porzingis for at least the first few months of the season, which means Robinson could open the year in a minor rotation role. He likely won't be on the radar in most Fantasy leagues to start his rookie season, but the Knicks could experiment with a larger workload later on once eliminated from the playoffs, so he can be someone to monitor closely on the waiver wire. It is worth it to note that Robinson played extremely well in the summer league and used his length to alter a ton of shots, finishing five games with averages of 13.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.