The Lakers have added another inexpensive swing to their offseason overhaul, agreeing to a one-year, $3 million deal with Ziaire Williams, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
It’s the kind of move that fits exactly what Los Angeles has been doing since officially handing the keys to Luka Doncic and moving on from LeBron James this offseason. Rather than chase a headline-grabbing name, Rob Pelinka has kept stacking the roster with low-cost bets, and Williams is the latest one.
Williams comes to Los Angeles after averaging 10.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 42.5% FG and 34.3% 3-PT FG in 22.9 MPG with the Brooklyn Nets last season. The 24-year-old flashed the length and defensive versatility that made him the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he enters his sixth NBA season with some runway still in front of him.
For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious. This is not a move built around pressure.
Williams is not being asked to start or carry a major load. He’s there to fight for rotation minutes, defend multiple positions, and bring athleticism to the wing.
At $3 million, the risk is tiny, and the upside is real enough to matter.
That’s why the fit grades out well for both sides.
Los Angeles has already brought back Austin Reaves on a $185M deal, added Walker Kessler to address the long-standing need for a defensive center, and brought in Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvili to deepen the roster. The front office has clearly chosen to build around its new franchise cornerstone instead of chasing aging stars.
And the Lakers may not be finished. ESPN reports that they remain strongly engaged in pursuing Jonathan Kuminga as a potential starting power forward if things fall into place in free agency. That makes Williams look like depth, not the final piece.
Still, depth matters, especially when it comes this cheaply. If Williams turns into a dependable 8th or 9th man, the deal becomes a strong value play. If it doesn’t work, the Lakers can move on next summer without much pain.
Williams also gets a clean opportunity here. Brooklyn couldn’t offer what Los Angeles can: meaningful games, championship expectations, and one of the league’s best playmakers creating open looks. Luka Doncic makes life easier for everyone around him, and Williams has averaged at least 10 PPG over the last two seasons, so there’s reason to think he can keep producing in that range.
The one-year setup gives him something to chase, too. If he earns minutes and performs, he’ll be positioned for a much better multi-year deal next summer.
For Doncic, the fit keeps getting cleaner. Kessler gives the Lakers a dominant inside presence.
Grimes brings shooting and perimeter defense. Sexton adds secondary ball handling.
Williams adds another athletic wing who can run the floor and defend at a high level. That’s the kind of roster construction that makes sense around a star who doesn’t need teammates demanding touches.
Pelinka deserves credit for making the most of the cap space created by the offseason changes. The Lakers have avoided tying up money in a limited market and instead targeted young players with upside on inexpensive contracts. Williams fits that blueprint perfectly.
At $3 million, this is a smart, low-risk addition with real upside. The Lakers get another wing defender and athletic piece for the bench, while Williams gets a chance to prove he belongs in a bigger role.
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