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NY Knicks: Projecting the roster with Chris Paul and Fred VanVleet

By Jeffrey Bellone

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 22: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers heads for the basket as Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks defends at Madison Square Garden on January 22, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Knicks Starting Center: Mitchell Robinson

As much as fans will gripe over the possibility of the Knicks adding Chris Paul to their roster, thinking it’s a clear indication the team is not committed to rebuilding through their young core, it seems impossible to believe New York enters next season without 2019 lottery pick RJ Barrett and 22-year-old Mitchell Robinson as two centerpieces in their starting lineup.

Unless the Bucks come calling about Giannis, expect Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau to invest heavy minutes in both RJ and Mitch.

The entire idea behind adding veteran talent around these two players is to unlock their potential. Robinson is due for a contract extension this offseason, but it seems like the Knicks will wait until next summer to decide whether they want to pay him early. With less than $4 million due over the next two years, his discounted rate allows them to take gambles on veterans like Paul.

During another season of losing in 2019-20, one of the highlights was watching Mitch slam down alley-oops from the Garden ceiling. Imagine him as a finisher next to Chris Paul? In fact, with Paul, VanVleet, and RJ, there would be three capable facilitators in the lineup that Thibs could deploy based on match-ups to set-up Mitch on offense.

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