Gobert is the one I think Mitch can model his game the most after.

Rudy
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/goberru01.html
Mitch
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robinmi01.html

Pretty similar granted Rudy has been more durable. With the attention that all the scores in the lineup can draw away from Mitch. If he decided to own every lose ball/rebound. Together with the dump offs and lobs if the team played unselfishly. With the best guard play he would have since entering the league. Could be someone that opposing teams found hard to handle.

Also a contract year. The timing is just right. 4yrs experience, improved G play, contract yr. Needs stay healthy though.

He's still in a walking boot and probably will not be ready for training camp.

You need to lower expectations because even with no injury it tolk him 2 seasons 2 learn how to fouling,

newyorknewyork wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:What kind of jump you expect when he's been out of commision since February..

He's still in a walking boot and probably will not be ready for training camp.

You need to lower expectations because even with no injury it tolk him 2 seasons 2 learn how to fouling,

There are a ton of scores on the roster so wouldn't be realistic to expect a large increase in pts from him. But I think his impact could be very evident. The expectation would simply be for him to capitalize on the attention his teammates pull away from him. Take what he already does well to another level. Which would be a non stop lanky athletic motor . Outhustling and outworking opponents who are already compromised by the guard play, offensively. And of course a high level defensive anchor.

I agree with all of that. If I'm interpreting 1248 correctly. Sounds like mitch needs to first show he can be reliable for a full season. Thats his first goal.

knicks1248 wrote:I just feel this kid doesn't take the game serious enough.He has tremendous potential and after 3 seasons he hasn't leveled up at all or at least not enough to even get excited about.

Right now he's a 20 minute a night backup.

Unclear to me what you base these statements on. Missed a flight when he was 19? Fired a couple of agents cause he was getting questionable advice? Put on 30lbs of muscle but some people like him better at 245?

What I see is a young player that was available to us in the second round cause he made some questionable decisions that actually hurt his trajectory. I see athleticism and talent to the extent a player that broke the season FG% - his criticism on that being that he doesn’t take 8 foot jumpers.

He won the starting role on Thibs squad over Noel. He consistently is top10 in blocks per 36 and box outs per36. His money stats (points and rebounds) took a drop in Thibs offense where Randle is highly prioritized.

All this to say - I’m not sure what stats we are expecting him to increase this year over last specifically where Thibs uses his C to box out to gain the team rebound.

His health is only a question due to last season, but that feels more like coincidence than a personal health issue.

If he is really coming back at 275, he should be able to body even the biggest active Centers in the league.

Seriously, how do you not see upside here? Only answer is that you are looking for 20/10 money stats. I think we will see an increase here with players able to focus on the team instead of their next contract. Except Mitch. He has to earn his contract. I’d give him the 4/52 he is eligible for.

Lock it up and let’s roll.

knicks1248 wrote:I just feel this kid doesn't take the game serious enough.He has tremendous potential and after 3 seasons he hasn't leveled up at all or at least not enough to even get excited about.

Right now he's a 20 minute a night backup.

He's great scoring on the pick and roll, but where is the short hook shot or bank shot from in close. His FT% has gone down each year, too.

This is a big year for him in his basketball career and whether or not the Knicks will pay him what he wants next year...or even keep him.

He's a physical freak, and he does a lot of good things, but showing more diversified game (I don't meant 3pt shooting, either) would be nice.

Based on his workout videos in the past, he's always showing off his 3pt shooting and cross-over dribble. He sees himself as following a Giannis/KG type of trajectory.

What he needs is someone who can help plan his development over time, much like RJ's (and Tatum and others') relationship with Drew Hanlen. Focus on just a few things and doing them really well each summer, then master new skills the next year.

On one hand, we've seen incremental improvements in Mitch - he seemed to be setting better picks on offense and fouling less this year - so it showed he was improving his fundamentals a bit. At the same time, but we also didn't see him leveling up his offensive arsenal - no post move(s), no short jumper, no notable development in his playmaking, with the same safe kick out passes when he couldn't finish.

Mitch is hardly the only young big that has this problem. Plenty of notable bigs don't develop - going back a generation, we didn't see Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Kwame Brown didn't develop much at all. It's also not limited to bigs. On the Knicks, we've seen players like DSJ, Frank, and Knox not only stagnate but regress. (DSJ and Frank are also big workout vid guys - and perhaps are trying to do too much too soon)

I wonder how much of a player's lack of significant develop is limited by talent (for all of Mitch's athletic gifts, perhaps god said this is all you're going to get) or by knowing what to work on to get to the next level?