One NBA analyst believes the Los Angeles Lakers should trade for New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson this summer.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Knicks:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Mitchell Robinson
New York Knicks Receive: F Jarred Vanderbilt, 2025 second-round pick, 2026 first-round pick swap rights
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs in five games.
LA needs a center after trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade.
“The Lakers don’t need an All-Star center, but rather just someone with size who can protect the rim and be a vertical lob threat for Luka Dončić and LeBron James to find,” Swartz wrote. “Robinson, 27, is a true 7-footer who knows his role and plays it well. He does a good job of cleaning the offensive glass and has blocked 2.7 shots per 36 minutes in his seven-year career.”
Robinson averaged 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks for the Knicks in the regular season while shooting 66.1% from the field and 68.4% from the free-throw line. He’s 27 years old.
If Rob Pelinka acquired Robinson, Lakers head coach JJ Redick could start Doncic, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron and Robinson.
Pelinka told local reporters after the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves that he will attempt to acquire a center this summer.
“We know this offseason, one of our primary goals is going to be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position,” Pelinka said. “This roster needs more size and needs a center. That’s a very clear and obvious by-product of trading potentially the best big in the league to Dallas to get a point guard. Of course, that’s going to open up a huge hole.
“The trade deadline and the moments up to it don’t allow you the requisite time to explore every single unturned stone to add a big to our roster. We just didn’t have the time after the Luka trade. But now we do.”
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