The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to aggressively pursue help at the center position this offseason, and one name beginning to gain serious traction around the league is Portland Trail Blazers big man Robert Williams III.
With Luka Doncic now leading the franchise, the Lakers appear focused on finding an athletic rim-running center who can thrive as a lob threat while also protecting the paint defensively. Because let’s be real, Deandre Ayton isn’t that.
Williams has become one of the most talked-about names connected to Los Angeles during NBA offseason discussions in Chicago, ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently revealed.
“The one name that basically picked up the most buzz, a lot of teams in Chicago last week, was Robert Williams. That’s the name,” Marks said on ESPN.
“You have to be cautious with that because of the games and availability, minutes. That’s the one guy who, I don’t want to say neutralized Victor (Wembanyama), but he guarded him probably one of the best in the playoffs in the first round. That would be the guy.
“He’s probably one of the top center unrestricted free agents out there and I think he gives you that shot blocker, rim protector, that guy that can be a lob threat for Luka. Now the question is what’s the cost? Is it $12-13 million? I think that’s kind of where his range is, but there will be other teams that also see that.”
When healthy, Williams has consistently shown why teams remain interested in him. Across his five seasons with the Boston Celtics, he developed into one of the league’s better defensive centers while also becoming a highly effective pick-and-roll finisher.
His athleticism and timing around the rim made him a major factor during Boston’s deep playoff runs.
The concern, however, remains durability.
Williams has appeared in just 85 games over the last three seasons with Portland and has dealt with multiple knee and lower-body injuries throughout his career. For a player whose game relies heavily on explosiveness and mobility, that medical history will likely determine how aggressive teams are in free agency.
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