2018 NBA Mock Draft: A full first round following National Championship Game
17. player. 142. . Center. N/A. Mitchell Robinson
Age: 20 (4/1/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11”, 223 pounds, 7’4″
Slash Line: N/A
Season Averages: N/A
If the Washington Wizards are going to make the most of the 2018 NBA Draft, then the top priority must be finding a player with upside worth investing in. There are perimeter players who possess it, but John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter Jr. are locked in as franchise cornerstones.
Mitchell Robinson is a mercurial figure due to the fact that he went all of 2017-18 without playing competitive basketball, but his upside is that of an All-Star center.
Had Robinson played in 2017-18, he’d likely be viewed as a lottery lock and a potential top-10 draft pick. He’s a physically overwhelming player with a massive 7’4″ wingspan and a more than adequate combination of mobility and explosiveness.
Robinson was one of the most dominant rebounders in the country as a high school basketball star, and should translate that ability to the NBA.
The rest of his game is certainly worth questioning, but Washington shouldn’t run away from a project here. Wall, Beal, and Porter need immediate help, but they’re also relatively young players signed to long-term contracts.
Robinson has the tools to be an elite rebounder, a true rim protector, and a force on the offensive end of the floor. He’s the perfect fit in Washington.