The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Mitchell Robinson as a free-agent target in the past, and I've always vehemently warned against it. Simply put, you shouldn't spend money on players who are rarely available. Robinson may have logged 60 games played in 2025-26, but he played in a combined 48 games in the two seasons before that. He's not durable and never has been.
Mitchell Robinson should not be considered a free-agent target for the Lakers
Robinson doesn't even need to be on a basketball court to put his durability at risk. He jeopardized his availability for the NBA Finals during an off-the-court incident that hasn't been disclosed, but that resulted in Mitchell injuring his hand. ESPN's Brian Windhorst suggested, based on the evidence in front of us, that Mitchell probably hit or punched something.
Robinson and the Knicks are two wins away from an NBA championship. If and when the Knickerbockers do pull this off, Robinson's stock will naturally suffer a spike in value. This is just what happens to players on a championship team. The Lakers cannot allow themselves to be tempted. Winning a ring doesn't change the fact that Robinson is a free-agent trap.
There's also a roster-specific reason why Robinson doesn't make any sense for LA. For Robinson to be valuable to your team, you need to have a durable, star center starting in front of him. The New York Knicks have that. The Lakers do not. Stay away!
Mitchell Robinson looks good because he plays behind a durable star center (Karl Anthony-Towns)
I've seen a lot of people suggest Mitchell Robinson as a Lakers target. I just don't think he's realistically durable enough.
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) June 5, 2026
The Knicks get away with him as a low-minute, high-impact reserve because they have KAT. The Lakers don't have an All-Star big that never misses games.
The Lakers can't rely on Deandre Ayton to give them starter-level production over the course of the season. Acquiring Robinson would only give LA another unreliable player at the position, doubling their trouble.
Robinson isn't without value as an NBA player; far from it. He's arguably the most vicious and capable offensive rebounder in the world right now. But let's be clear about his role. As aforementioned, he's a backup center who thrives behind a highly available star center. When Mitchell misses time for the Knicks, New York knows it'll still be okay. They are prepared to make it work without him.
The Lakers are not at all in this position, roster-wise. General manager Rob Pelinka would be making a massive mistake if he watched the NBA Finals and convinced himself that Robinson is a player to pursue this summer. Let someone else overpay him and be disappointed.
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