The Los Angeles Lakers need help at the center position in order to match up with the NBA’s best teams, and the rumor mill is starting to heat up with the draft and free agency just days away.
According to one report, Luka Doncic may be trying to recruit Jalen Duren, a rising star center for the Detroit Pistons. However, Duren will be a restricted free agent, and the Pistons, who finished first in the Eastern Conference this season, will almost surely match any offer he gets from another team.
Two interesting options for the Lakers as far as unrestricted free agents are Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks and Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers. According to Jake Fischer, a reporter who covers the NBA, both Robinson and Williams could be options for Los Angeles, via NBACentral.
“The Lakers have been linked to all sorts of veteran big men in the forthcoming free agent market as well. They could emerge as a suitor for the Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson and the Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams III, although sources say both players are very open to remaining in their incumbent roles with the Knicks and Blazers.”
Both men are energetic, defensive-minded centers who could gobble up plenty of quality minutes for the Purple and Gold. Williams averaged 6.7 points, seven rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 17.1 minutes a game this season, while Robinson put up 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 19.6 minutes a game.
However, both men have a long history of being injury-prone. The Lakers will have to think long and hard about committing money and minutes to such a player if there is a good chance he will miss a few dozen games a season and possibly not be available during the playoffs.
While both players may be gettable at a reasonable price, one has to think the Knicks, who just won the NBA championship, will want to retain Robinson. Perhaps Williams could be had, although Portland was somewhat competitive this season and may want to keep enough of its core for next season.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers linked to two defensive-minded unrestricted free agent centers
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
