The Los Angeles Lakers have pressure from both their star players and their fans to make a substantial upgrade at the center position this offseason. The tandem of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes is serviceable, but it won’t be enough to elevate the Lakers to the upper tier of teams.
One name that has been floating around is New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson. The NBA champion is an unrestricted free agent, and the Knicks’ unwillingness to go into the second apron may leave him as the odd man out this summer, opening the door for teams like L.A. to snag him, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer:
The Lakers, amid a growing pessimism that the Knicks will be able to hang onto Robinson, are also regarded as a likely suitor for the New York big man once free agency officially begins.
This is not the first time the Lakers and Robinson have been linked, and not the first time that it’s been hinted that the big man won’t return to the Knicks. However, the Lakers have to seriously consider if Robinson is enough of an upgrade to spend real money on him.
On paper, Robinson brings many of the tools the Lakers would want to pair with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He’s a solid rim protector and a lob threat, as well as an incredible rebounder. However, injury concerns and poor free throw shooting make him a massive risk.
Robinson has played more than 60 games just once in his last six seasons. He averaged under 20 minutes per game in the regular season and under 14 minutes per game in the playoffs for the Knicks last season. His career 50.8% from the free throw line makes it impossible to play him while his team is in the bonus.
All of this is to say that Robinson is a risk. If the Lakers are going to pay him a small amount to be a backup, it’s a fantastic acquisition. But paying him upwards of $15-20 million per year to be a starter would be a regrettable decision for L.A.
Lakers reached out to Pelicans about Yves Missi
Another center that the Lakers have reportedly made calls about is New Orleans Pelicans young big man Yves Missi. The 22-year-old is entering his third season, and is on the outs of the regular Pelicans rotation after their draft day trade for Derik Queen in 2025.
It remains to be seen if a deal will materialize.
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