Mitchell Robinson’s move to the Boston Celtics caught plenty of people around the league off guard, but Boston apparently wasn’t the only team kicking the tires.
According to Jovan Buha, who covers the Los Angeles Lakers, Robinson and the Lakers had conversations as well. Buha said Los Angeles might have gone after him if the team had not landed Walker Kessler.
"My understanding was like if they didn't get Walker Kessler, they were gonna go get Mitchell Robinson," Buha said.
Buha also raised a concern about Robinson’s durability over a full season.
"I don't think you want to rely on him [Robinson] as your starting center for 82 games," Buha added, H/T Heavy. "I don't know that his body can handle that."
Robinson arrived in Boston after the Celtics made one of the more surprising moves of the NBA offseason, dealing for the former New York Knicks starting center. Robinson has shown flashes of being very good, but injuries have followed him too.
His situation with the Knicks likely would have looked different if not for his price tag and the second apron, which kept New York from bringing him back.
There are still obvious questions about what Robinson will look like in Boston. He has limitations, and there were stretches in the postseason with the Knicks when he couldn’t stay on the floor because he couldn’t make free throws or create offense.
Even so, Joe Mazzulla’s offensive background could help unlock parts of Robinson’s game. Whether that actually happens is the real test.
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