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The New York Knicks strategized around the youth already present on the roster before diving into the free agency market in an attempt to lure big-name players to Madison Square Garden.

Missing out on both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left them with a boat-load of cash and not many high-profile options to pursue, so finding players to compliment their youth was the next best thing.







Center Mitchell Robinson is primed to be one of the key contributors for the Knicks, and his auspicious rookie season further proves his worth as a second-round selection from last year’s 2018 NBA draft. Moving forward, though, he has plenty to work on and skills to refine in his sophomore campaign.

Who did the New York Knicks add to help the young center?

Two veterans were brought in to not only help the team succeed with leadership and production but also to help Robinson develop as a player.

Those two players are Julius Randle, who has spent time at the center position, and Taj Gibson, an aging veteran with the knowledge and skill-set to provide Mitchell with the necessary tools to grow.

Gibson seems to be up to the task in regards to helping Robinson:

“That’s the thing I plan on doing,” Gibson recently said of his Knicks counterpart in Robinson, via The New York Post. “I’ll try to make him better and challenge him in practice. It was tough to get a shot over him. He’s a crazy shot-blocker. My job is to be a veteran, go in and challenge the guys every day and make my teammates better, help change the culture and push forward a winning mentality.’’

Randle, who has already begun rallying the troops and activating his leadership qualities, has ensured the fans that he will give everything he has for the city of New York.

“I’m just going to bring it every night, man,” he said in an interview with Ian Begley of SNY. “I’m not going to promise stats, I’m not gonna promise anything. Just bring it every night and do everything I can to help my team win. And I’m going to get better as a player. You’re never going to have to question my commitment, my effort. You’re never going to have to question where my heart is. It’s for this team, it’s for this city, and that’s what it’s about.”

Having two players like Julius and Taj to set the example for Robinson is essential, and he will ultimately reap the benefits of their experience. We should expect to see the Knicks’ rising center to elevate his game during the 2019-20 season and begin to alleviate some of the deficiencies that plagued him last year — foul trouble, floor movement, etc.