The Los Angeles Lakers’ frontcourt dilemma is one they’ve been trying to solve since their 2020 championship run. Back then, they had the perfect setup with Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee supporting Anthony Davis, a combination that helped Davis focus more on offense and cut down on his defensive workload, while improving the Lakers’ defensive needs across the board.
Their current center rotation this season just falls short of that. Christian Koloko is raw and far from ready for a starting role, Jaxson Hayes has been serviceable but is currently sidelined, and Christian Wood hasn’t even played this season yet. The Lakers know they need more, especially with Nikola Jokic dominating the Western Conference.
With this in mind, NBA insider Jake Fischer mentioned Portland Trail Blazers big man Robert Williams as a possible option for the team. Known for his defense, Williams is an ideal target and would bring the much-needed defensive presence that the Lakers lack.
However, the conversation doesn’t end there. Fischer noted that the Blazers could be more interested in moving former No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton than Williams. Ayton has his flaws, but his double-double production and starter minutes could still be valuable for Los Angeles if Williams isn’t attainable.
Per Hoops Rumors:
“While Fischer also brought up Robert Williams as a possible option for the Lakers, he says he has talked to people around the league recently, including scouts, who believe the Trail Blazers may be more inclined to trade Deandre Ayton than Williams at this season’s trade deadline. Given that Ayton’s cap hit is nearly three times higher than Williams’, the Blazers may have a hard time extracting much of value for the former No. 1 overall pick.”
