The Los Angeles Lakers may finally be getting the rim protector they’ve desperately needed, at least if a new trade idea proposed by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz comes to life. Swartz suggests the Lakers acquire Mitchell Robinson from the New York Knicks in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt, a 2025 second-round pick, and 2026 first-round pick swap rights.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Mitchell Robinson
New York Knicks Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, 2025 second-round pick, 2026 first-round pick swap rights
The Lakers Can Get A Solid Starter With Low Risk
This deal would give the Lakers a center who addresses their most glaring postseason need: size and interior presence.
During their first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers’ lack of a true shot-blocking center left them completely overmatched, forcing coach J.J. Redick to run small-ball lineups that simply couldn’t hold up.
Mitchell Robinson, though injury-prone, checks the boxes the Lakers need filled. A true 7-footer, Robinson has made a career of protecting the rim and catching lobs; two skills tailor-made for a team featuring LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
He averaged 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 66.1% from the field this past regular season. In the playoffs, he averaged 4.1 points and 6.5 rebounds, while remaining an active presence on the boards and in pick-and-roll situations.
While Robinson’s free-throw shooting (career 52.2%, 28.9% in this year’s playoffs) is a glaring weakness, he would not be asked to play late in tight games.
His role would be clear: defend the rim, rebound, and finish easy looks off feeds from stars. Robinson has one year left on his deal, set to earn nearly $13 million, making him a low-risk option in terms of financial commitment.
As Lakers GM Rob Pelinka recently acknowledged, the team’s midseason trade of center Anthony Davis in the Doncic deal left a void they couldn’t patch.
The Knicks Can Get A Defensive Wing
On the Knicks’ side, the move makes sense given recent changes to their frontcourt. With the arrival of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson has seen a significant reduction in minutes, becoming more expendable than ever.
Jarred Vanderbilt, meanwhile, offers New York greater defensive versatility. At 6-foot-9, he’s a switchable wing who can defend guards, wings, and some bigs, and brings more perimeter mobility than Robinson.
Though he averaged just 4.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals on 48.8% shooting, Vanderbilt’s value lies in his energy, hustle, and positional flexibility.
Add in the Knicks collecting a second-round pick this year and the right to swap first-rounders with the Lakers in 2026, and the deal becomes even more appealing for a team low on draft assets.
This Could Be A Low Risk Move For Both Teams
Both players come with injury concerns. Vanderbilt played only 36 games this past season and just 29 the year before, while Robinson suited up for just 17 games this year and 31 last season. But for the Lakers, the upside of having a lob threat and rim protector is worth the gamble.
In short, this is the kind of low-cost, high-impact move that could fortify the Lakers’ roster and give them the center presence they so clearly lacked.
