The Portland Trail Blazers have an active three-game losing streak, coming off their most embarrassing game of the season in their 141-99 loss to the short-handed Utah Jazz. Their next chance to snap the losing streak comes on Sunday, Dec. 8, on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. This game has become far more winnable than expected when the schedule was first released, with the Lakers now on a three-game losing streak of their own.
Los Angeles has lost seven of their last nine games, contributing to a 12-11 record. Given the Lakers' recent struggles, it would be unwise for them to aggressively pursue trade deadline acquisitions, as they are far from being contenders with just one additional piece.
Sacrificing future assets to chase a title in LeBron James' closing window at 39 years old makes little sense if they aren't truly a player away from competing. But despite hovering around .500, the Lakers are still heavily involved in trade rumors, with the center being a primary position they are seeking to upgrade.
Robert Williams III is becoming a hot commodity for the LA Lakers
The good news for LA is that if there's ever a deadline to be in the market for a center, this is the one. There are several quality trade candidates, including Clint Capela, Jonas Valanciunas, Walker Kessler, Mitchell Robinson, and the Blazers' duo of Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III, among others.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report recently highlighted the Lakers' interest in trade targets, naming Valanciunas and Williams as players on their radar. "Another name outside of Jonas Valanciunas that always gets mentioned for the Lakers is Robert Williams up in Portland."
Should the Blazers move on from Williams?
Whether or not to move Williams is a multi-layered question and likely the most challenging decision GM Joe Cronin will have to make leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. In a vacuum, it would be better to keep Ayton around primarily because his injury history is more reliable going forward.
However, the contracts alone make Williams a more valuable asset. Ayton is owed nearly $70 million over the next two seasons, while RW3 is on the books for around $25 million. Another factor that makes Williams the coveted trade target is the new CBA's tax apron. Now more than ever, teams must be highly selective with their finances, and making a deal for Ayton, the highest-paid player on Portland's roster, has become much more complicated.
The Lakers' future draft capital is intriguing due to their recent struggles and LeBron's age. If they are willing to dump a first-round pick for RW3, then the Blazers should consider it. But their priority should still be trading Ayton, depending on what value they can get for him around the league.