Domantas Sabonis is an amazing center, though he's not the dominant force on defense that they need him to be. That's where Mitchell Robinson comes in. The Knicks' five has everything the Kings are looking for in an elite rim protector, and he is an unrestricted free agent next summer.
There's no doubting the skills Sabonis brings to the Sacramento Kings' table. For the last three seasons, he has been the top rebounder in the league. He is an elite scorer. And, when the moment calls for it, the man can dish out a dime and pick up some nice assists.
The problem has always been his defense. He's not an elite defensive force, and it gets worse the further the opposition draws him away from the rim. With the Kings' emphasis on defense this year, Sabonis is going to have to find a new gear. Or backup, at the very least.
Mitchell Robinson enters the game
Robinson has been in the league since 2018 and has only ever played with the New York Knicks. During that time, he has proven himself to be both a great rebounder and an efficient scorer. Additionally, he's a fast break threat, which isn't always the case with a big man like him.
Where Robinson shines the brightest is on defense. At seven feet tall, Mitchell is both big and athletic, allowing him to get in the mix quickly and effectively. He is a shot blocker, a rebounder, and an all around menace on the defensive end of the court.
Those are the areas Sabonis simply does not excel at. Even if he shows some improvement on defense under head coach Doug Christie, he's still unlikely to find the groove the team needs. That's why the Kings need to put this unlikely pairing together.
Sabonis and Robinson on the court
During Karl-Anthony Towns' time in Minnesota, the Timberwolves found great success with their double big lineup of KAT and Rudy Gobert. The same could work in Sacramento with Sabonis playing power forward while Mitchell Robinson is the center.
Naturally, the two could swap out center duties on different lines throughout the game. But having them on the court at the same time could provide huge defensive benefits as well as a shocking level of rebounding between the two of them.
This won't be easy to pull off, as the Knicks are unlikely to let Robinson go. The thing to keep in mind is that New York has a new head coach in Mike Brown, and he might want to take the team in a different direction. If they let Robinson walk, the Kings need to pick him up.