Rob Pelinka
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Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka during a press conference in June 2024
As the trade deadline passed, it became increasingly clear that the Los Angeles Lakers were focused on restraint.
Rather than chasing splashy or risky upgrades, the front office limited itself to minor, low-risk moves as part of a broader philosophical approach.
General manager Rob Pelinka did complete a deal for Luke Kennard, addressing a long-standing need for perimeter shooting on the wing.
Just as importantly, Kennard arrived on an expiring contract. That distinction matters, as it allows the Lakers to preserve more than $55 million in projected cap space heading into the offseason.
Maintaining that flexibility appeared to be the guiding principle at the deadline, even if it meant resisting short-term fixes that could have marginally boosted the current campaign.
Lakers Eye Clean Slate Around Luka Doncic
For years, the Lakers’ front office struggled to build a stable, competitive roster around LeBron James. There is now a clear desire to avoid repeating those mistakes around Luka Doncic.
While a distant opportunity for a blockbuster move involving Giannis Antetokounmpo could emerge this summer, Pelinka appears to have an eye on a more sustainable path.
The Lakers are positioned to lure talent away from other teams and fill out the roster through multiple additions, leveraging league-leading cap flexibility.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, the center position stands out as a clear area of need, with two notable names potentially available in unrestricted free agency.
“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.
Williams has long been linked to the Lakers due to his defensive impact, though his health remains a significant concern. Robinson, however, presents an intriguing alternative.
Through 38 games this season with the New York Knicks, Robinson is averaging 4.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 69% from the field.
For a Lakers team that has struggled with physicality throughout the season, Robinson’s profile stands out.
Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of the league in multiple rebounding and interior defensive categories, areas where the seven-footer could make an immediate difference.
Robinson also excels at creating second chances, averaging 4.6 offensive rebounds per game, the third-highest mark in the league.
That skill would translate cleanly within the Lakers’ rotation, creating extra possessions for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, should Reaves re-sign in free agency.
A Free Agency Blueprint Takes Shape
Robinson is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million contract, earning $12.9 million this season. He is currently 27-years-old and will turn 28 by the time free agency opens.
While his recent injury history may raise eyebrows, similar to Williams, Robinson remains in his prime and would be an unrestricted free agent, giving the Lakers a clear path to pursue him.
He is not a star in the traditional sense, but Robinson is certainly a star in his role. He could provide the long-missing stability at center that the Lakers have struggled to find.
Pelton pointed to the Dallas Mavericks as a model for how the Lakers could build around Doncic.
“Between missing the playoffs in 2023 and winning the West a year later, Dallas drafted a rim-running center in Dereck Lively II and acquired another via trade in Daniel Gafford,” he added. “The Mavericks also found two defensive-minded forwards in Derrick Jones Jr. (free agency) and P.J. Washington (trade) who also provided enough shooting to space the floor.”
Robinson, or Williams, could represent the first step toward establishing that same level of continuity around Doncic.
Pelton also pointed to Keon Ellis as a potential option the Lakers could revisit after the trade deadline.
Ellis, who the Sacramento Kings recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, will enter unrestricted free agency this summer, and Cleveland may struggle to match an aggressive offer due to its tax situation.
Restricted free agent Peyton Watson is also emerging as another potential target, possibly via a sign-and-trade scenario.
With LeBron James widely expected to come off the books and significant cap room opening up, the Lakers appear to have a clean runway to make significant additions.
The coming offseason offers an opportunity not just to add talent, but to reshape a roster that has fallen short for far too long.