The Los Angeles Lakers‘ pursuit of a big man to solidify their center rotation has been one of their main priorities this offseason. Although the journey has featured several obstacles, exacerbated by a quickly shrinking market, the Purple and Gold have finally received some good news.
In a recent report by The Athletic’s Jason Quick, the Portland Trail Blazers are not expected to retain Robert Williams III, who has been one of the Lakers’ preferred targets, as the Blazers head in a different direction. Quick elaborated on this and shared:
“The Blazers have immediate needs at center and power forward. They are not expected to retain free agent center Robert Williams III, who is hoping to land a contract in the $15 million a year range, leaving only second-year center Yang Hansen as a backup to Donovan Clingan. The Blazers are also thin at power forward, with Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara their only options.”
The Trail Blazers’ center has long since been considered an ideal center target for the Purple and Gold. While this interest has been noted, an earlier report suggested that the Blazers were inclined to retain the center, effectively spilling water all over Los Angeles’ plans.
Now, in light of their latest moves, the Blazers are pivoting to a different approach. With Ja Morant coming on board, Portland does not have the cap flexibility to retain Robert Williams III. Needless to say, this opens the door for L.A. again.
Can The Lakers Still Sign Robert Williams III?
Earlier reports about interest in Robert Williams III hinted at a sign-and-trade deal, which would require the Lakers to part with certain assets. In this regard, the latest updates are more promising, as they allow the Purple and Gold to sign him in free agency. Still, there may be some factors worth considering.
At the time of the initial reports, the Lakers could access the entirety of their free cap space, which was nearly $60 million. Now, following Austin Reaves’ contract extension, along with players like Marcus Smart declining their player options, the total cap space stands at roughly $40 million.
In theory, this would be sufficient to sign Robert Williams III on a three-year, $45-$50 million contract, which would see him earn approximately $15 million per year. However, there are some additional factors.
The Lakers currently have only eight active players on their roster. Given the need to bring back players such as Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, and Luke Kennard, the Purple and Gold may see their cap flexibility disappear very quickly. When also factoring in that their ongoing efforts to convince LeBron James to return, albeit on a team-friendly deal, Los Angeles may not have enough money at their disposal to make the necessary signings.
The issue, therefore, boils down to priority.
On paper, Robert Williams III fulfills everything Luka Doncic demands from a pick-and-roll partner. Apart from being an athletic lob threat, Williams also sets strong screens and is more than capable of functioning as a reliable rim protector on the defensive end.
While many have shared concerns about his recurring injuries, last season, the big man appeared in 59 games and averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 70.8% from the field.
In light of the Lakers’ roster needs, it would seem appropriate to secure Robert Williams III as soon as possible. But when also factoring in the importance of bringing back key rotation pieces, the Lakers may be forced to make some tough decisions.
