Lakers Reportedly Inquire About Blazers’ Robert Williams
The Los Angeles Lakers have shown interest in acquiring Robert Williams III from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin.
Irwin reports that Williams is one of several centers the Lakers are targeting to replace Anthony Davis, who was traded to the Mavericks in the Luka Dončić deal four months ago.
A source close to the Lakers organization shared, “The internal plan is to trade for their starting center – sources say they’ve held conversations with other teams about Nic Claxton, Robert Williams, Walker Kessler and others – then, ideally, use the taxpayer midlevel on his backup – Brook Lopez and Clint Capela are the two names most often linked to the Lakers.” The source added that, “because of their clear and desperate need at the position, such an approach is going to be a lot more complicated than it would’ve been had they not neglected the position the past couple of seasons.”
Williams, who joined Portland in the Damian Lillard trade, was limited to just 20 games last season due to injury. Despite that, the former All-Defensive Second Team center averaged 17.6 minutes, 5.8 points (on 64.1% shooting), 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.