NY Knicks: Predicting the starting lineup as camp opens

Predicting the Knicks’ starting center: Mitchell Robinson

This is the easy one. I think Knicks fans would riot if the team somehow broke from camp with a different starting center than Mitchell Robinson. For all of the talk about cap space, future draft picks, and the development of recent lottery selections, it is the trajectory of a second round pick from 2018 that could decide how quickly the Knicks are able to turn into a competitive basketball team.

While Robinson isn’t the type of player you build an entire franchise around, his superlative skillset as a rim-runner and shot-blocker should make him an integral piece for years to come. The fact he is on an extremely team-friendly deal for the next two years (although the Knicks will need to decide if they want to restructure his contract soon) makes him even more valuable.

After setting an NBA record for single-season FG percentage last year, it’s time for Robinson to take another step in his development. His extraordinary shooting numbers can be attributed to the fact he basically never takes a shot that isn’t a dunk. He has teased an outside jumper in workout videos, but Knicks fans are waiting to see it unleashed on the court.

While the Knicks have added Nerlens Noel and Omari Spellman to the frontcourt, both offer competent depth options more than an alternative to Mitch at the five.

That said, it will be interesting to see how Thibodeau works his rotations to find the proper duo between Mitch, Noel, and the two main power forwards in Julius Randle and Obi Toppin.