The Lakers may have already solved their biggest offseason need by bringing in Walker Kessler, but the roster still has a thin spot behind him. If Kessler misses time, Los Angeles doesn’t have an obvious answer at center, and the current backup options don’t come close to matching his impact.
That’s why one recent trade idea has the Lakers circling Robert Williams as a potential safety net. It’s not a perfect fit, but it might be the best realistic one left on the board this late in the offseason.
The proposal would send Robert Williams to Los Angeles, with the Lakers sending Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht to the Portland Trail Blazers.
“In this deal, the Blazers unload Williams’ three-year, $44 million contract and absorb Vanderbilt’s smaller deal. The Blazers also pick up the 25-year-old Knecht, who may be just a change of scenery away from finding his true potential in the NBA,” Adel Ahmad wrote.
Williams brings obvious appeal if the Lakers are looking for a true backup five. He’s an above-average defender and still one of the better lob threats in the league when he’s healthy enough to be on the floor. That part of his game would fit cleanly alongside Luka Doncic.
The concern, though, is the same one that has followed Williams for much of his career: availability. His injury history is a major reason he’d even be in play here, and it’s also the biggest reason any team would have to think twice before making the move. If Kessler were to get hurt, Williams would help - but he comes with his own durability questions.
In Other News...
Former Nets Wing Just Gave Brooklyn Fans A Tough Reality Check
Ziaire Williams is back on the move, and this time his path leads to Los Angeles on a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Lakers. The former Nets wing arrives with a clear role in mind as a reserve who can stretch the floor and defend on the perimeter, while also reuniting with former high school teammate Bronny James, who remains with the Lakers as he enters his third season.
For Los Angeles, it is a low-cost addition with a familiar modern appeal: a wing who can fit next to bigger names without needing the ball in his hands. For Brooklyn fans, it is another reminder of a player once in their orbit finding a new home elsewhere, even as the Lakers hope Williams can settle into the kind of three-and-D role that has become increasingly valuable over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Kuminga Pursuit Just Hit A Roster Problem They Can't Ignore
Jonathan Kumingas market appears to be narrowing, and the Lakers have moved into a familiar kind of limbo that comes with chasing a talented young player without a clean path to get him. With Cleveland out of the picture after choosing Peyton Watson, Los Angeles is now one of the teams most closely linked to Kuminga as it tries to keep the door open on a deal that would add another high-upside piece to the roster.
The issue is less about interest than logistics. A sign-and-trade would require cooperation from the Hawks, who would rather be compensated with draft capital than take back players, and the Lakers do not have a lot of either draft assets or open roster spots to work with. So even as the sides move toward a contract, the real question is whether Los Angeles can actually clear the deck enough to make the move happen. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Still Have One Frontcourt Decision That Could Shape This Season
With LeBron James out, the Lakers have spent the offseason figuring out what a more Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves-centered roster should look like, and the frontcourt is still the clearest area where the fit can be upgraded. The team has been watching the market for help at center, weighing both trade and signing routes as it tries to add size and stability behind the stars who will drive the offense.
One name that keeps making sense in that search is Isaiah Stewart, whose defensive profile would give Los Angeles a tougher interior presence and another layer of frontcourt depth. For a team trying to survive the early part of the season while reworking its identity, the decision on whether to add a big man like Stewart could end up shaping more than just the rotation. [Read more 🡒]