The NBA world is watching as the New York Knicks sit just two wins away from winning their first championship since 1973. One team watching closely is the Los Angeles Lakers, who are looking for the blueprint to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs around superstar Luka Doncic.
One clear proof of concept to winning a title right now is having a big man capable of slowing down Victor Wembanyama. The Knicks have that in the form of backup center Mitchell Robinson, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Lakers are one of the teams with interest, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer:
Teams regularly relayed to me when I’ve asked around about Robinson’s status have pointed to the Bulls, Hornets, Lakers and Raptors. Those are all clubs known to be looking for center upgrades.
Robinson is on the tail end of a four-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Knicks back in 2022. Now, at age 28, the Knicks center might be looking to cash in to the best of his abilities. His free agency is sure to be a fascinating one.
There is no denying the impact he has had on the Knicks. His rim protection, offensive rebounding and touch around the rim make him not only an ideal archetype for the current NBA with Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic among the top players, but also a near-perfect fit next to Doncic.
However, health is a major concern for the center. He played in 60 games this season, as well as all but one playoff game. But that represents his highest availability in years. He played in just 17 regular season games — 18 playoff — in 2024-25 and 31 games the year prior. He has played in 65 or more regular season games only twice in his eight-year career.
The Lakers may want Robinson, but they may not want to invest a significant portion of their cap space in a player that may miss many games every season. If he’s not their only addition at center, then it could be a massive win for the purple and gold, though.
Robert Horry: Lakers must build to compete with Spurs and Thunder
The common saying is that the NBA is a copycat league. Typically, that means that teams try to replicate the blueprints of the teams that had deep playoff runs or ultimately won the title. That, according to Lakers champion Robert Horry, is especially important with the youth and assumed staying power of the Spurs and Thunder.
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