Robert Williams III is the most likely Portland Trail Blazers player to be moved by the Feb. 5 trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Lakers make perfect sense as a potential landing spot.
The Lakers already added a former Blazers center in Deandre Ayton this past offseason, but still desperately need help in the frontcourt. Williams can provide them with much-needed depth while also addressing their glaring defensive limitations.
Despite their 20-10 record, the Lakers shouldn't be considered genuine contenders unless they upgrade their roster by the deadline. They currently rank 25th in defensive rating (117.4). With their offensive-minded star trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James (who has finally lost a step defensively), Williams would be the ideal complementary piece.
Robert Williams III to the Lakers?
Defensively, he'd be an upgrade over Ayton with his rim protection and versatility out on the perimeter. Offensively, Williams can still provide value as a lob threat -- a missing aspect of Ayton's game that keeps him from being a perfect partner for Doncic.
The Lakers are a franchise that prefers star hunting, and rightfully so, given their track record. But that's why a relatively minor move like trading for Williams also makes sense, as it allows them to keep most of their future assets to make a splash when the time is right.
Similar to Ayton, Williams may be more of a band-aid for the Lakers' frontcourt problem; they eventually need to find a more long-term solution. But given his injury history and expiring contract, it may not cost Los Angeles anything more than a salary filler and second-round picks to land an impactful two-way player.
Williams was a widely discussed trade candidate last season, but Portland turned out to be higher on him than many around the league expected. However, things are different this time around as Portland is reportedly more willing to entertain offers for its talented but injury-prone big man.
Williams is still making a significant impact for Portland. They would be hurting at center behind Donovan Clingan, with Yang Hansen and Duop Reath both essentially unplayable this season. But with a 13-19 record, the Blazers must continue playing the long game by exploring trades for Williams, even if it comes at the expense of their slim playoff chances.
Williams is owed $13.3 million this season, which may be a slight overpay for someone who can't play extended stretches. But the Lakers have a flawed (and overrated) roster with minimal assets if they aren't willing to trade their first-round picks. As a cheap alternative, trading Williams to the Lakers makes sense for all involved parties.