The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for NBA free agency with their sights set on finding a reliable starting-caliber center to complement their Luka Dončić-led core.
While recent insider reporting has connected the Lakers to Mitchell Robinson, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe believes the franchise would be best served by steering clear of the New York Knicks big man.
Shannon Sharpe Urges Lakers to Avoid Mitchell Robinson in Free Agency
Robinson, the longest-tenured member of the Knicks, played a key role in New York’s historic 2026 NBA championship run, providing relentless rebounding, physicality, and energy off the bench. After wrapping up the final year of his four-year, $60 million contract, the 28-year-old is set to enter free agency this offseason, with multiple suitors seeking his services.
While Robinson is reportedly “very open” to remaining in his current role, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, LA “could emerge as a suitor” for the 7-footer amid its “links to all sorts of veteran big men in the forthcoming free agent market.”
Robinson would likely mark an upgrade over oft-maligned Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton, whose inconsistent effort and perceived softness grated on the team’s fan base in his first season with the Purple and Gold. Still, Sharpe is skeptical about whether Robinson’s skill set could translate to success in a full-time starting gig on an aspiring title contender.
“Mitchell Robinson in a starting role? Think about when you bring him in, what you’re asking him to do. Not be a backup. Now you’re gonna ask him to play 30-plus minutes a night,” Sharpe said on Sunday’s edition of “Nightcap.” “Can he do that, considering that he stays in foul trouble?”
MORE: NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Linked to $15.7M Center Who Could ‘Completely Thrive’ Alongside Luka Dončić
In addition to his knack for being overzealous with committing fouls, Robinson is an abysmal free-throw shooter, having shot just 40.8% on 1.7 attempts per game this past season. The eight-year veteran fared even worse in the playoffs, shooting only 29.3% on 3.2 attempts a night, prompting Sharpe to raise concerns about opposing teams utilizing a “Hack-a-Robinson” strategy against LA.
Sharpe added that while Robinson is “great in his role” with the Knicks, “expectations is the greatest killer of careers.”
“The expectations for Mitchell Robinson in New York is vastly different than the expectations in LA,” Sharpe pointed out.
Shannon Sharpe tells Joe Johnson he’s not sure about the lakers wanting to get New York Knicks big man mitchell robinson. Because of his bad free throws and his tendency’s to foul a lot . Plus them 4 points he gets with the Knicks ain’t going to cut it with the la lakers pic.twitter.com/hS6gq8w9lS
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) June 22, 2026
The Lakers have been named in reports involving several rim-running, shot-blocking big men who could anchor the interior, with Robinson ranking on the lower end of their reported targets.
If LA general manager Rob Pelinka wants to capitalize on Dončić’s prime and build on this past season’s 53-win finish, he may be wise to zero in on more of a sure-fire bet, especially given Robinson’s extensive injury history.
