In light of Luka Doncic‘s demands for roster upgrades, the Los Angeles Lakers‘ front office has been hard at work this offseason. Having made some noteworthy signings and acquisitions, the Purple and Gold have delivered. However, the team still seems to be on the lookout for upgrades.
With the recent signing of Kevon Looney, the Lakers addressed a key roster issue. Now, with the need to add more defensive flexibility on the perimeter, Lakers insider Khobi Price reported that the Purple and Gold have set their sights on 6’9″ wing Ziaire Williams.
While noting the possibility of the Lakers losing out on landing Jonathan Kuminga this offseason, Price added:
“As of Wednesday, it wasn’t clear what other options the Lakers would have if they didn’t acquire Kuminga, or at least one that would fit into their vision, similar to how they’ve expressed to Kuminga. Or fulfill their combination of needs for size, athleticism, defense, and youth on the wings. Ziaire Williams, who’s coming off a career year with the Nets, is a player the Lakers eyed after the Nets declined Williams’ $6.3 million team option to make him an unrestricted free agent.”
Price went on to mention other targets, such as Bruce Brown, Matisse Thybulle, and Ochai Agbaji. On that note, the notion of Kyle Kuzma returning to L.A. has also been floated. However, there is some room to debate that Williams may objectively be a better addition than any of these three.
Having established himself as a promising two-way asset early in his career with the Memphis Grizzlies, Ziaire Williams possesses the tools to be a valuable rotation player. Now that he is available in free agency, the Purple and Gold may see the merit in pursuing him.
Should The Lakers Prioritize Signing Ziaire Williams?
While the notion of adding a skilled and versatile wing like Williams is quite promising, the Lakers face a bit of a dilemma. Given the ongoing interest in acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, the Purple and Gold may not have the cap space to acquire both players this summer.
For the most part, wanting to add a player like Kuminga is also justified. As a star-caliber prospect with tremendous upside as an offensive player, he could be a phenomenal addition if he fulfills his potential.
Still, there is some reason to believe Ziaire Williams may be the safer bet.
Last season, Williams averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range. Given that he came off the bench for the Nets, his scoring figures are solid. Although his shooting splits are largely underwhelming, it can be argued that his defensive activity makes up for it.
At 24, Williams is roughly the same age as Kuminga. Although there is no questioning how impactful Kuminga is offensively, Williams is by far a more versatile defensive presence.
At the current juncture, pursuing Jonathan Kuminga appears to be the Lakers’ priority. If a trade allows them to land the forward by offloading the remaining $25.7 million owed to Jarred Vanderbilt, along with a handful of draft picks, it would be advisable to acquire Kuminga. However, if defensive integrity on a budget is a priority, the Lakers may see more value in signing Ziaire Williams out of free agency.
With a payroll of $200 million, the Lakers are roughly $9.0 million under the tax. Since Williams was due to earn $6.3 million with the Nets before his team option was declined this season, the Lakers could convince him to join with a two-year, $13 million deal.
Unfortunately, with more teams looking to upgrade their wing depth, the Purple and Gold may be forced to offer more if they end up in a bidding war for the 24-year-old forward.
