The Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as one of the primary players in the free agent and trade market heading into the offseason. After making an early exit from the playoffs, it was made abundantly clear that the Purple and Gold had to plan their roster construction process if they had any aspirations of being contenders next season. Adding a legitimate big man was addressed as a priority in this regard.
The Lakers have been linked with several players, either through trade or free agency. However, certain constraints, such as cap space and limited trade assets, have made projections for acquiring a proper big man a challenge.
However, a recent trade proposal by Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz may provide the ideal framework for the Lakers to acquire a solid center. Swartz presented New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson as a potential target. With this in mind, let's take a look at the trade package.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Mitchell Robinson
New York Knicks Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, 2025 Second-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick Swap Rights
The deal presents an interesting guideline for the Purple and Gold to follow to bring the Knicks' big man over the Los Angeles. But is Robinson the right fit for the Lakers?
Mitchell Robinson Ticks The Right Boxes
Mitchell Robinson boasts some tremendous value on paper. The Knicks center is a 27-year-old, seven-footer with an impressive vertical jump and defensive ability. His athleticism and length make him an ideal fit for the Lakers, who expressed their desire for a lob threat, and his shot-blocking ability makes him an effective defensive presence in the paint. He averaged 1.1 blocks per game in the regular season.
It is very important to consider the context in which he would be playing in Los Angeles. The Lakers plan to build their roster around their star player, Luka Doncic. Playing alongside him implies that the seven-footer would either find himself setting high screens and rolling hard to the basket as a passing option, or waiting in the dunker's spot as an outlet to receive a lob.
The role on offense is simple enough to digest, and given Doncic's ability to bring the most out of his centers, Robinson could feast in such a scenario.
However, it is important to understand that the Knicks center hasn't been an offensive threat at any point in his career. His highest points tally was in his sophomore season when he recorded 9.7 points a game. Thus, it is safe to assume that he primarily serves to play the role of a rebounder and rim protector.
With reference to other players on the Lakers' roster, Robinson could find himself in a position to succeed. However, he will be required to do a lot of work on the rebounding front. Unfortunately, his numbers aren't the most convincing.
This season, he has averaged 5.9 rebounds per game. This has seen an uptick to 6.8 in the playoffs. However, this remains an underwhelming figure for someone who would potentially be a starter for the Lakers.
The Challenges That Come With Signing Mitchell Robinson
There are very few situations in which a trade is considered a complete win for both teams. In the proposed trade scenario, the Lakers may stand more to lose by making a move for Robinson.
Parting with Jarred Vanderbilt does more damage than good, specifically in this context. Vanderbilt's performances have been subpar for the most part, with an additional emphasis on the time he misses due to injury; he isn't necessarily a valuable asset for the Lakers.
However, what the forward brings to the table on the defensive end is hard to emulate. The rotation, including him and Dorian Finney-Smith, made for a solid defensive unit on the perimeter.
His athleticism also allowed him to switch seamlessly on defensive duties. While this is not the expectation the Lakers will have of Robinson, it is merely a facet that will need shoring up through trades.
The primary concern with Robinson, while also being his poor rebounding numbers, is his injury-prone nature. Since the 2021-22 season, the Knicks center has progressively played in fewer games. This raises several questions regarding his durability.
Considering how long and grueling the schedule is, particularly in the West, the Lakers may not be able to afford having an injury-prone center. When additionally factoring in that they are also giving away valuable draft capital as compensation, the Purple and Gold may find themselves in a vulnerable position.
As things stand, the 27-year-old has earned the favor of the Knicks' fan base and has been on the receiving end of a lot of support from them. However, in the event of a trade, the center may not benefit from the same love and support if he isn't in a position to suit up on any given night.
