Last year’s playoffs showed several glaring holes in the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster. One of the more important holes they needed to fill was their center position. While they got an offensive center in Deandre Ayton, they still need a rim protector, someone who can defend and anchor their defense. It looks like they might get just that. Per the latest betting odds, the Lakers are the favorites to land Robert Williams III.
The Lakers are the Favorites to Land a Defensive Rim Protector
Williams has one more year left on his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, but it seems like he might be the odd man out. With the Blazers drafting centers two years in a row, there will not be much playing time for Williams. Last year, the Blazers drafted Donovan Clingan. He played in 67 games, started 37, and averaged almost 20 minutes per game. This year, the Blazers took another center in the first round, Yang Hansen.
The irony is that both Ayton and Williams were part of the Blazers’ rotation last season. And now, they both might end up on the Lakers roster. Per Bovada, a sports betting website, the Lakers have the highest odds to get their rim protector at +185. Other teams in the running include the Golden State Warriors at +255, the Milwaukee Bucks at +375, the Boston Celtics at +475, and the Houston Rockets at +600.
How Can the Lakers Get Robert Williams?
Williams has a salary of $13.2 million for the 2025-26 season. That means that if the Lakers want to get him, they have to trade one of Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, or Jarred Vanderbilt. Those three each make around $11 million per season. Of course, LA will have to sweeten the deal and send a first- or second-round pick the other way. They have a second-rounder in 2023 and firsts in 2026, 2’8, ’30, ’31, and ’32. They can also offer swaps or protected picks.
Does Rob Williams Move the Needle for the Lakers?
Four seasons ago, Williams was one of the best defensive players in the league. He finished seventh in voting for Defensive Player of the Year and made the All-Defensive second team. Since then, however, he has battled several injuries, playing 61 games in the last three seasons. That is the same number of games he played four seasons ago, when he was a top defender. Williams has career averages of 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. He can definitely help the Lakers and play 15 to 20 minutes.
On the offensive end, he is rather limited, but in a pick-and-roll with Luka Doncic, he can get some easy lobs. He also averages 2.5 offensive rebounds per game for his career. Those are all valuable assets that the Lakers can use, but the question is whether they are ready to pay the price for an injury-prone player.
Right now, they have Ayton, Kleber, and Jaxon Hayes as their centers. If they trade Kleber to get Williams, it would be a defensive upgrade, but they will lose spacing and shooting. The fun part about getting Williams is they would reunite him with Marcus Smart. During their time in Boston, Smart and Williams were responsible for one of the best defenses in the league.
© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
