Lakers prepared – Mitchell Robinson’s Knicks deal has ended, and Los Angeles is preparing a long-term offer as free agency opens—while New York’s own rival has “legitimate interest” in the center.
Mitchell Robinson is heading into free agency as an unrestricted free agent, and the Los Angeles Lakers are already looking at him as a way to reshape their frontcourt.
Robinson’s contract with the New York Knicks has expired, bringing an end to his eighth year in the NBA. In that run with the franchise, he helped New York win its first championship since 1973 this year—an achievement that only raises the stakes for where he’ll land next.
If it’s a familiar place for him, it’s because the market is expected to be crowded. Many contending teams will want to acquire Robinson’s services. and the Lakers are among the teams believed to be readying serious money. The talk around Los Angeles is that they are prepared to offer Robinson a long-term deal with an annual average value around the mid-level exception.
The pull isn’t just about adding bodies in the paint. Robinson has a clear track record that fits what teams like the Lakers look for when they’re trying to fix their depth at center—defense and rebounding. Across 60 regular-season appearances in his eighth year, Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. In the playoffs, his numbers continued to matter: 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, isn’t arriving at this moment from nowhere. The Lakers finished the past season with a 53-29 record, good for fourth in the Western Conference. They beat the Houston Rockets in six games before being eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in a four-game sweep.
The Lakers’ interest also comes alongside a real sense of timing in the broader center conversation. NBA insider Brett Siegel pointed to the appeal of Robinson in relation to other offseason moves. writing that after trading Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls and adding Julius Randle. many had wondered whether the Brooklyn Nets would pursue Robinson with their cap space. Siegel also noted that the Nets have “legitimate interest” in pursuing their in-city rival’s big man.
There’s an added layer to that: Robinson and Randle spent five seasons together as one of the best rebounding frontcourts in the league. That connection helps explain why Robinson isn’t being treated like a simple role-player option—he’s being viewed as a piece that can change how a team controls the ball after shots.
For the Lakers, Robinson would be a direct answer to their need for frontcourt improvement. His defense and rebounding are the qualities being leaned on as Los Angeles looks to revamp their depth at center, especially as the team weighs what comes next after another playoff exit.
For now, Robinson’s future is still open—one major decision away from being set in stone. What’s clear is that the Knicks era is already over with the contract expiration. and Los Angeles is signaling that it wants Robinson long-term. At the same time. the Nets’ “legitimate interest” means the race won’t be quiet on the other side of the city.
Mitchell Robinson Los Angeles Lakers New York Knicks Brooklyn Nets free agency NBA rumors Julius Randle Nic Claxton center depth rebounding defense