Lakers’ backup plan at center looks thin if Mitchell Robinson deal falls through

The Lakers have spent the last few months hearing Luka Doncic loud and clear. He wants a legitimate center. Not a project. Not a guy who can spot start 20 games. An A-level option in the middle.

Mitchell Robinson is the name at the top of their list. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Los Angeles plans to offer Robinson a long-term contract in free agency with an annual value around the mid-level exception. That’s a bet on upside and health, two things Robinson has struggled to deliver consistently.

But if the Lakers whiff on Robinson, the options get ugly fast.

Walker Kessler is staying put

Utah’s young center has been floated in trade chatter for months. And sure, contract talks with the Jazz haven’t been smooth. But every indication from league sources suggests Kessler isn’t going anywhere. The Jazz see him as a core piece. The Lakers probably don’t have the assets to change Utah’s mind anyway.

Myles Turner isn’t what he used to be

Turner has been a Lakers target for years. But at this point, he’s on a big contract and his game hasn’t evolved the way some expected. The Lakers might not even want him at his current price. He’s still a good defender and a credible shooter. But he’s not the kind of difference-maker who reshapes a frontcourt.

Robert Williams III is the fallback

If the Lakers miss on Robinson, Williams is the most attainable pivot. He can be had with the mid-level exception, and his skill set fits well next to Doncic — lob threat, rim protector, high motor. The catch is that Williams will have suitors. Multiple teams are expected to chase him in free agency. The Lakers won’t be the only ones selling him on a role.

Siegel laid out the rest pretty bluntly: “The Lakers’ options to add talent in the frontcourt are thin. Outside of pursuing Robinson or Williams in free agency, the only other player who could be a low-cost last option for the year from free agency would be Nikola Vucevic. On the trade market, Jarrett Allen and Daniel Gafford would be the Lakers’ best options for an instant upgrade at the center position.”

Vucevic is interesting as a veteran floor-spacer, but his defense is a problem. Allen and Gafford would require trades, and the Lakers don’t have a ton of chips left to play.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype also floated Jock Landale as a name Los Angeles could look into. Not exactly the kind of addition that moves the needle.

Let’s not forget what the Lakers were working with last season. The center rotation was Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes. They had moments. But they also had nights where they got absolutely cooked. It’s no mystery why the front office is making this a priority.

The Lakers are going to try. They’ll make offers. They’ll explore trades. But if Robinson signs elsewhere, Plan B looks a lot like Plan A with less upside. And that’s a problem for a team that believes it’s one piece away.