Lakers Need Mitchell Robinson to Help Luka Doncic Contend for Title amid Latest NBA Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers' to-do list for the 2026 NBA offseason is not a short one.

That said, the various bullet-point items all revolve around the same objective: Maximizing this roster around Luka Dončić in a way that maximizes him.

If they want to bring the rest of this group up to championship speed, they could look to the current championship round for a blueprint. Actually, it sounds as if they already are, as The Stein Line's Jake Fischer reported the Lakers are among the teams "regularly relayed to me" as potential suitors of bouncy New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson.

The Lakers previously indicated to Dončić that they'd provide him with "better center play, true lob threats who mimic the skills of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II."

That's Robinson in a nutshell. His skill tree may not branch off many different directions, but it has a rock-solid foundation built around length, athleticism and the kind of perpetual energy that helps him make full use of his elite physical tools.

On offense, he's a brick-wall screen-setter, an explosive rim-roller and the best glass-cleaner in the business. On defense, he pairs perimeter mobility with interior length and verticality to form a disruptive package at every level.

He is, in short, a role player who performs so well in his role that he feels more like a game-breaker. In three of the last four seasons, the Knicks have been at least 2.6 points better per 100 possessions with him than without. This was his second season in a row—and fifth overall—that he has tallied more than .215 win shares per 48 minutes.

He is, to boil this down to a single word, pretty freakin' awesome.

He's also a bit vulnerable against the injury bug, having played just 167 of a possible 328 games over the past four seasons. The Lakers can't just ignore that number. They can (and should) make an aggressive offer, but this isn't the kind of pursuit where a blank check slides across the table.

It'll still take something pretty rich to get him. The Knicks could be motivated to keep him after this scorching postseason run. Anyone with an opening at center could give him a long look, too. Fischer's report included the Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors with the Lakers as potential suitors.

There are precautions at play, but nothing that should prevent the Purple and Gold from making a serious push.

Dončić has always done his best work around a bouncy rim-runner and lob-finisher, and Robinson is among the very best at the craft. While signing him would only be one of several steps needed to join the championship chase, it would still be a sizable one heading the right direction.