When compared to his brother, Robin Lopez is obviously far from the dominant player who would attack the rim. He is not the kind of player who would want the ball in his hands most of the time, satisfied really of aiding his teammates and getting the intangibles done.
What intangibles?
Lopez is undoubtedly a role player and he seems to be fine doing that for a living. He provides the screens; he provides honest defense and complements his teammates. In all, he is not the offensive type nor he is the intimidating defensive stopper that some players have been known to be.
So would that justify the New York Knicks signing up Robin Lopez to a four-year deal worth $54 million?
Some would have their reservations but when you talk about covering the bases for the Knicks, Lopez is expected to do just that.
He is not as flashy or expected to feud with Carmelo Anthony with the ball. Rather, he will make life easier for Anthony and the offensive-minded players on the Knicks roster. Summing it all up, he is there to provide the necessary assistance to anyone who would need it.
Lopez is what one may call the coach's favorite. He just does the dirty work that people have simply forgotten. He is expected to do a lot of hustling and be scrappy on both ends of the court. These are the expectations from the twin brother of Brook. He can score if he wants to but waiting on follow-ups, collaring rebounds, and boxing out are just some of the things that Lopez is expected to do heading into next season.
Considering the Knicks weren't able to get any of the high profile names like LaMarcus Aldridge or Greg Monroe, Lopez should be the next best thing. The team needs role players to complement the scorers on the squad and Lopez can do just that.
While his addition doesn't make the Knicks overnight contenders, his acquisition is a step in the right direction. Now if only the Knicks can add more help for Anthony then the Knicks may probably be getting somewhere.
