With the Los Angeles Lakers signing Kobe Bufkin on Sunday, their roster is officially full, forcing them to wait until the offseason to make additional moves.
Who should the Lakers pursue on the free agent market this summer? According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, a 7-foot New York Knicks center should be considered a respectable option for the 17-time NBA champions.
“The unrestricted free agent market seems most likely to yield a center, with Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks and Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers realistic possibilities,” Pelton wrote Tuesday.
Robinson’s biggest kryptonite is lower-body injuries. The 27-year-old big man has only appeared in 86 regular season games since the start of the 2023-24 season. Why? Because of a nagging ankle injury that frustrated the Knicks and their fan base.
Fortunately, Robinson is in a better place health-wise in early February, as he’s regularly an active participant for Mike Brown and the Knicks. The former second-round pick is an undervalued offensive rebounder and shot blocker who would give the Lakers a low-post secret weapon in 2026-27 and beyond.
Robinson is averaging 4.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks with the Knicks this season, shooting 69.0% from the field in 38 contests. If the Lakers land Robinson in the offseason, they’ll undoubtedly receive a high-risk, high-reward frontcourt contributor.
