The New York Knicks will have a new look next season with Mike Brown now as the head coach. Furthermore, there is already some rumbling about a significant lineup change coming next season.
Knicks liking the idea of Mitchell Robinson starting
SNY’s Ian Begley noted that there is “internal support for Mitchell Robinson to be in the starting five instead of Josh Hart next season.
“It’s worth noting that, during the free-agency process, the Knicks valued Yabusele’s versatility off the bench behind a starting lineup featuring Towns and Robinson. Yabusele was signed before Brown was hired, and, obviously, the new head coach will ultimately decide the starting lineup/rotation for New York. But the fact that the Knicks factored in Yabusele’s role behind a starting lineup featuring Towns and Robinson tells you that there is some internal support for that starting five,” Begley wrote.
Guerschon Yabusele signed a two-year, $12 million contract with New York at the beginning of the offseason after spending last season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was initially brought in to back up Joel Embiid, but injuries to the 2023 MVP allowed Yabusele to get a lot more playing time.
Knicks could benefit from Robinson starting
As a result, Yabusele thrived, averaging 11.0 points and shooting 50% from the floor and 38% from three as a versatile floor-spacing big. The Knicks needed the additional size and physicality, along with the scoring ability, after employing a lackluster bench unit last season.
Moving Robinson to the starting five would mean moving Hart back to the bench, a role that might be more suited for him. Hart’s lack of aggression on offense was hurting the team’s scoring output, and although Robinson can’t space the floor, he provides them with elite rim protection and offensive rebounding to allow second-chance opportunities.
Ultimately, there are still lots of unknowns when it comes to next season’s rotation, but it appears likely that Robinson will see more time with the starters at the very least.
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