The Los Angeles Lakers have arguably made the most transactions of any team in the NBA this offseason. Despite this, the Lakers are far from done with making moves. With reported interest in players like Jonathan Kuminga, the Purple and Gold are expected to add more players to their rotation. But what if there was another alternative on the table?
During a recent episode of “Buha’s Block,” Lakers insider Jovan Buha fielded a question about Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams and whether he could be considered a viable target.
Given how conversations with Kuminga have come to a halt and interest in other players like Kyle Kuzma has been lingering, shifting focus elsewhere, potentially to a player like Grant Williams could be quite intriguing. On that note, Buha expanded on these thoughts while responding to this question, stating:
“I like Grant Williams. In the spirit of this question, I went back and pored over his numbers and watched some film on him… What I would say with Grant is, I like Grant. Remember, Grant was brought into Dallas to work with Luka, and that didn’t exactly go over great. He was traded along with a first-round pick for PJ Washington. Dallas got the better end of that deal, and I would agree with that.”
As Buha mentioned, the Dallas Mavericks initially acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics in hopes of pairing then-superstar Luka Doncic with a physically strong forward who could absorb contact, defend, and also space the floor.
Unfortunately, this didn’t work out, as Williams averaged only 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks on 37.6% shooting from beyond the arc in 47 appearances. Needless to say, PJ Washington has been far more reliable. Still, this doesn’t discount how effective he could be in the Lakers’ system, especially in a different role.
“I would say that to me, just looking at the numbers and watching the film on him, Grant Williams just profiles more as a bench-level player than a starter,” Buha continued. “I think he can be a productive and solid bench player, but I don’t think he’s a starting-level player, especially through the lens of like competing with the league’s best teams.”
Aside from a bench role, Buha was particularly impressed with Williams’ defensive upside, as he added:
“I think he has a 94th percentile defensive estimated plus-minus, which is an awesome number. One of the best all-in-one defensive metrics. And he rates out as elite on that end. The rim protection is really impressive for a guy of his size, about 6’7″-6’8″. And the post defense is really impressive. Some of the screening mobility defensively is impressive.”
Positionally, Williams also brings some flexibility to the rotation, something which players like Kuminga and Kuzma may not be able to provide. Although he may be on the shorter side, he is also capable of playing as a small-ball five because of his strength and size. This would allow him to play a role similar to Sandro Mamukelashvili.
While this could be viewed largely positively, Buha still didn’t seem as convinced about the fit, as he expressed that the Lakers need a more versatile wing player rather than a versatile big man.
“I think the Lakers need either a 4/3 or a 3/4. So there’s like a talent/productivity component here where I don’t think he’s as talented or productive as Kuminga or Washington,” Buha noted. “There’s a positional fit where those guys, I think, are just more wing-like than him and have overall better mobility, foot speed, and quickness on the perimeter than he does on both sides.”
Although the insider makes a solid point, it could be argued that a player of Grant Williams’ profile is exactly what the Lakers need.
As a tough, versatile defender, Williams could address several issues concerning the team’s frontcourt integrity. Considering that he also averaged 7.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on 38.8% shooting from beyond the arc last season, he could be a solid backup power forward.
Given how conversations with Jonathan Kuminga are going, there appears to be some notion that, because of his demand for a larger contract, the 23-year-old forward may be headed elsewhere. With no real updates on the pursuit of PJ Washington and the reduced intrigue with Kyle Kuzma, pursuing Grant Williams may be the safest bet for the Lakers.
“Grant Williams could be an interesting alternative,” Buha continued. “I’ll say this, I’d probably rather take him than Kyle Kuzma, all things being equal. I think he’s a better defender than Kuzma and has morphed into, like, his role primarily is just a spot-up, catch-and-shoot guy…”
Although Buha remains unconvinced of Grant Williams’ ability to contribute offensively, there is a belief that he would be a solid defensive hire. And when examining the Lakers’ roster, the team could benefit from shoring up the interior defense, especially off the bench.
Currently, Grant Williams is on an expiring contract worth $14.2 million. Although there has been no indication that he would be available in trade talks, especially with the Purple and Gold, L.A. would be advised to test the waters all the same.
Given what the team is willing to offer for Jonathan Kuminga, which features a package built around Jarred Vanderbilt‘s $12.4 million contract, the Lakers could look to structure a similar deal. Although their relationship with the Hornets may not be the best, it would certainly be worth a shot if it helps the Purple and Gold improve their chances of contending.
