Despite being mortal enemies, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers' offseason priorities, more often than not, have not overlapped. One of the few times they have is when the Anthony Davis saga unfolded in 2019, and here's a good piece of Celtics trivia: did you know they made an inconsequential trade back in 200 after the Shaq-Kobe fallout?
I digress, but I'm bringing this up because their plans almost did overlap this summer. As The Athletic's Dan Woike revealed that, if LA hadn't pulled off the Walker Kessler trade, they would have turned to Mitchell Robinson instead.
"While Los Angeles believes in Kessler and he was either near or at the absolute top of Dončić’s wish list, scarcity undoubtedly played a role in the cost the Lakers had to pay. Had it not been Kessler, the Lakers, according to team and league sources, would’ve likely tried to sign free agent center Mitchell Robinson, who left the New York Knicks to sign a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston," Woike wrote.
Luckily, the Lakers paid up for Kessler, and then some, and the rest was history with Robinson. Because he signed the same day Boston traded Jaylen Brown, it overshadowed how big of a break it is that he's now a Celtic.
Yes, Robinson is a fragile player, but when he is on the floor, he is one of the best rebounders ever. Boston found success in dominant rebounding from the likes of Neemias Queta and Luka Garza last season. Robinson will give them an even bigger edge, even if the Celtics will likely have to be more conservative with him than they were with Al Horford.
For that same reason, missing out on him would have sucked, but especially if he became a Laker instead.
If Lakers had gotten Robinson instead, Celtics were running low on options
Before Boston signed Robinson, it was hard to figure out where else to turn. Robert Williams III went back to Portland while Nikola Vucevic went back to Orlando. They had the Anfernee Simons TPE available, but it's fair to say there would have been reservations about a potential Myles Turner trade if that was even on the table
The Lakers would have screwed over Boston twice by signing Robinson. Not only adding a quality big like Robinson, but also ensuring the Celtics don't probably would have made it twice as sweet for them. For that same reason, it's twice as sweet that he landed in Boston.
There would have been quite a few more questions if Boston's Robinson pursuit came up short, but adding him alone should instill confidence in Joe Mazzulla's vision for this season.
Has this been the smoothest offseason for the Celtics? Not by a longshot, but intel like this serves as confirmation that it could have been so much worse.
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