Mitchell Robinson played a season-high 31 minutes on Friday and he made the most of his increased role. The Knicks center grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds, nine offensive, in a nine-point victory over Indiana.
Robinson has been on a load management plan all season.
“It’s obviously shown that it’s paid off,” coach Mike Brown told the New York Post’s Jared Schwartz, “because of his ability to, knock on wood, stay on the floor and play in games and play the minutes he played tonight.”
It’s a good sign for a big man, who will be on the free agent market this summer if he doesn’t sign an extension before then.
Here’s more on the New York teams:
- Knicks guard Jose Alvarado is frustrated by his lack of three-point success since being traded to New York, according to Schwartz. “I just gotta continue to trust in my work. I’ve been a good shooter my whole career,” he said. “It’s a different road, a different situation here. You asked me how [my three-point shooting] is, it sucks, so I gotta get better at it.” Since knocking down eight three-pointers against the Sixers on Feb. 11, Alvarado, who holds a $4.5MM option on next season’s contract, has made just five of 34 attempts. He didn’t even take a shot in 13 minutes against the Pacers on Friday.
- Josh Minott had a career night against Atlanta on Thursday, notching 24 points, three rebounds, three steals and three blocks in 24 minutes. He was acquired by the Nets from Boston prior to last month’s trade deadline. “I’ve been waiting on it,” Minott told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “But at the end of the day, I’m not going to call it pointless — but it’s one goal. So overall, I don’t want to say satisfied, but I’m pretty happy with my performance. But at the end of the day, it’s about getting numbers in the right column.” The Nets hold a $2.58MM option on Minott’s non-guaranteed contract for next season. If it’s exercised, his salary would become guaranteed on July 15.
- The Nets’ leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr., won’t play this afternoon against the Sixers due to an ankle sprain, Lewis tweets. This will be the 15th game Porter has missed this season.
Personally I would rather go with Mitch at center 26-30 mins. And have a real 4 next to him like Giannis, JJ, Sabonis. But that’s only dreaming. Towns is signed for two more yrs after this one. And Mitch is a FA this year. So I guess it will come down to how they play in playoffs.
Alvarado just has to stick with it. His energy is what we need most. The shots will fall eventually. Bridges play right now is most concerning. Come on Mikal we need you.
If they can somehow pull off the Giannis trade for towns this summer AND re-sign Mitchell… That length might top the French vanilla
Only way Knicks can do that. Towns has to go to third team. With Bridges or OG going too. Then they will have the assets to go after Giannis. Bucks don’t want Towns. Could take OG or Bridges, maybe.
Robinson is great, but his injuries are a major concern. That’s arguably the biggest reason he doesn’t play as much as he could, that left ankle is concerning for a big man, especially with how chronic it seems to be.