Though the Los Angeles Lakers are enjoying a winning season as the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed with a 35-21 record, their front office could already be planning ahead for their future offseason endeavors.
Los Angeles’ attack with the newly-acquired ex-Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić and future Hall of Fame inductee LeBron James has proven to be a lethal one, but the team’s lack of center depth could end up being their ultimate undoing come postseason time.
In order to correct this issue and keep their 25-year-old phenom content, recent reports have indicated that the franchise’s general manager Rob Pelinka may choose to pursue a trade for an agile and supremely efficient center from the New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson.
“The Lakers might need to do a little convincing to get Luka Dončić, who could enter free agency in 2026, to tie his future to theirs,” Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote Wednesday.
“Those recruitment efforts should start in full swing this summer, as the team starts to construct a supporting cast tailored to his strengths.”
“L.A., of course, has a glaring void on the interior following the voided deal for Mark Williams, and that needs to be addressed sooner than later. The Lakers need a lob-finisher who can anchor the defensive interior, and both (Nic) Claxton and (when healthy) Robinson check both boxes.”
At 26 years old, Robinson has become one of the more consistent centers in the entire NBA, though his one glaring inconsistency involves his ability to stay healthy.
The 7-foot, 240 pound big and 2019 All-Rookie Team selection has proven to be an essential rebounder and paint presence when on the floor, as evidenced by his historic 2019-20 season when he shot 74.2% from the field, leading the league and breaking the NBA’s all-time record for highest field goal percentage in a single season.
Robinson has also proven to be valuable as a rebounder and shot-blocker when healthy. Though he hasn’t touched the floor for the Knicks this season, the rangy frontcourt force contributed 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks in 31 appearances for the club in 2023-24.
As a potential acquisition for the Lakers, Robinson could have a large impact on winning, if health permits.
His catch radius and vertical leaping ability make him an easy alley-oop target for sensational lob passers like Dončić and James as a roller towards the rim, and he’s a capable shot-blocker that can also run in transition.
In terms of a package that would be shipped to New York in exchange for the injury-prone center, the Knicks could entertain accepting a package involving either Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt’s roughly $11 million salary along with the cheaper contract of Shake Milton to get a deal across the finish line.
