DONE DEAL: According To General Manager and VP Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and NBA Insider Dave McMenamin, Lakers Sign Ex-Celtics Fan Favorite Robert Williams in a Stunning $240,677Million Trade Deal
Former Boston Celtics center Robert Williams is still settling in with the Portland Trail Blazers after a year-long injury absence, but he could soon find himself back on the move, according to NBA insider Dave McMenamin.
On Wednesday’s episode of the “Hoop Collective” podcast, McMenamin speculated that the Blazers might trade Williams. This comes as little surprise given Portland’s crowded center rotation, with DeAndre Ayton and 2023 No. 7 overall pick Donovan Clingan ahead of Williams in the pecking order, limiting his playing time.
Stunning deal
McMenamin suggested that if Williams becomes available, he could attract interest, particularly from one of the Celtics’ rivals. “You look at (Jonas) Valanciunas, a name still legitimately on the Lakers’ radar, and we’ll see how Washington’s season plays out,” McMenamin said, as reported by MassLive’s Brian Robb. “Portland is having a really tough start to the year, but Timelord is back in the mix. Could Robert Williams be someone the Lakers acquire? Another realistic name.”
Williams would be a natural fit for the Lakers, who are off to a solid 6-4 start under first-year head coach JJ Redick. The Lakers are in need of insurance for Anthony Davis, especially given his injury history. After playing a career-high 76 games last season, Davis has been dealing with a foot issue, though he’s only missed one game so far this year. Bringing in Williams could provide the Lakers with valuable depth and a reliable backup if Davis is sidelined for any length of time.
Fans should be excited
The Lakers have limited depth behind Anthony Davis if he were to miss time. Jaxon Hayes is expected to be out for one to two weeks with a left ankle sprain, and Christian Wood, who has yet to play this season, is now expected to miss another month due to a setback in his recovery from offseason surgery, according to McMenamin. This makes adding a player like Robert Williams even more appealing, as the Lakers are already thin in the frontcourt.
Robert Williams, who played just six games last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee, could be a valuable addition for the Lakers now that he’s healthy. The 2018 Celtics first-round pick is off to a solid start this season, averaging 12 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks over three games while playing 18 minutes per game. He even made the first three-pointer of his career in his season debut and had a standout performance on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, posting 19 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.
What’s next for Lakers
That version of Williams, contributing on both ends of the floor, would certainly be an asset to LeBron James and the Lakers. His skill set would also make him a desirable target for several other teams around the league, with many likely to pursue the former Celtics fan favorite if he becomes available.
