LAKERS OFFSEASON NO LEBRON JAMES BIG BOARD: #20 MITCHELL ROBINSON
WRITTEN + EDITED BY JORDYN BONTRAGER
In a summer which will without a doubt deliver a daunting dose of chatter connected to the topic of LeBron’s future with the Lakers, many folks are still up in arms when it comes to the odds of LBJ running it back…
…let the record show that we already accepted the Kings’ abdication months ago. Bro is somehow still a certified cooker, but there is no denying that James is a bonafide unc at this point as well. At some point, the 41-year-old legend will be forced to embrace his fate within the landscape of the league. For now, it seems best that this polarizing organization and royal icon part ways to benefit the overall layout of the Lakers looking onward into the Luka Doncic era. In a perfect world, the powers that be find a way to team LBJ and KD up with Steph for one last run with the OGs.
Regardless of what transpires in terms of LeBron’s future, it is time for the Lakers to distinguish their future from his. This is the team’s most critical offseason in recent memory, as the franchise officially ushers Doncic into his new throne. Assuredly, Robby P and his front office friends will look to support their claims of constructing a roster similar to Doncic’s athletic, run and gun Mavericks squad from 2024.
If the big wigs are sticking to those spoken syllables, they will surely be scouring the open market for athletic bigs who can space the vertical axis on both ends of the floor. When you take some time to canvas the pool of available bigs this summer, Mitchell Robinson stands out as one who could theoretically fit the mold of what the front office is likely looking to recreate with this team’s frontcourt going forth into the future of the Don.
The 7-footer, who recently turned 28 in April, could work wonders in securing sexier salary figures on his next contract via strong individual contributions for the Knickerbockers in their first NBA Finals appearance of the century. Robinson has been a staple off the Knicks’ bench since he was drafted by the team back in 2018, but his legend has definitely tapered off a ton when you think back to the All-NBA Defense level of rim lockdown we were seeing from Mitch in his first few szns.
Injuries have been the unrelenting obstacle constantly holding the country music connoisseur back from taking the next step in asserting himself as a steady starting center in this league. Mitchy Rob has been actively suited up to play in 397 contests across his 8-year tenure thus far, and has been inactive for a total of 239 contests. Run the numbers, and that is a mind boggling 37.6% of Robinson’s career games which he has unfortunately missed. This discovery is all the more depressing when you take a second to observe the big fella’s staggering per-36 numerals: 12.3 RPG x 2.6 BPG x (+ a glorious 70.2% career FG%).
Robinson’s 7’4” wingspan, natural intelligence as a help defender and commanding rebounding prowess provide him with ample abilities which stand to benefit any team he suits up for. But we all know that the greatest ability is availability, otherwise Robinson would easily find himself much higher in these power rankings.
¿WHO’S NEXT?
