The Portland Trail Blazers wisely bought out Deandre Ayton last offseason, clearing the path for Donovan Clingan. That allowed their West rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, to finally address their glaring frontcourt void.
On the surface, signing a former No. 1 overall pick and a starting-caliber center to a two-year $16.6 million deal should be considered a steal. It even appeared that way to start the season, as Ayton was rejuvenated playing under the spotlight of the Los Angeles market and the historic Lakers franchise.
But Blazers fans already knew the story. Ayton is out to prove something in his new landing spot, only that external motivation isn't sustainable over the course of an 82-game season. He frustratingly lacks the internal drive.
Deandre Ayton is only a stopgap for the Lakers
Ayton wasn't necessarily a bad signing for the Lakers -- he played like an $8 million center. But the frustration stems from Ayton largely failing to reach his potential. The talent never matched the impact.
The Lakers shouldn't regret taking a low-risk chance on Ayton, but it's now his third landing spot that hasn't quite worked out. At this point, it's unlikely he ever will be anything more than a below-average starting center in this league. The Lakers know he's nothing more than a stopgap solution to a bigger long-term problem. That essentially forces them back to square one as their quest for a long-term answer at center continues.
ESPN's Bobby Marks recently suggested that Los Angeles should continue looking to Portland to fill its center void, only this time targeting Robert Williams III in free agency.
Lakers could target Robert Williams III in free agency
Williams had a bounce-back year in Portland, totaling 59 games played, which was the second highest of his career. For the Blazers, the downside of that health and impact is that he's now a more coveted free agent, ranking No. 9 on Marks' unrestricted free agent list.
He named the Lakers a landing spot not only for Williams' two-way impact but also for his fit alongside Doncic as the ideal lob threat.
"That would be the guy," Marks said. "He's probably one of the top unrestricted free agent centers out there. I think he gives you that shot blocker, that rim protector, that guy that can lob threat for Luka Doncic."
The Lakers have told Doncic they will attempt to surround him with similar pieces to those that led to his Finals run with the Dallas Mavericks. Williams would fit that bill much better than Ayton, better utilizing Doncic's elite playmaking ability.
Extending WIlliams should be a top priority for Portland
The Western Conference is already strong enough as is, and the Blazers can't afford to lose a key piece to their rival, especially one who is such a good fit and fills a massive void. Fortunately, Portland has leverage in this situation, as it can extend Williams' contract before June 30.
His impact this season and interest around the league go to show how much of a priority retaining Time Lord should be for the Blazers. Hopefully, the Lakers are forced to search elsewhere for their Ayton upgrade this summer.
They easily could've traded for Williams the past few seasons, as he's consistently been a trade candidate. Instead, the Lakers took the cheaper route to sign the flawed Ayton. A season later, they're seeing why Portland was fine letting him go.
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