Lakers' Reported Interest in Veteran Big Man is a Huge Mistake

As we head towards the midway point of the NBA regular season and the trade deadline, the rumor mill has begun to work overtime. Not a day goes by without speculations emerging about the Lakers' next trade target. Recently, six names have been identified by The Athletic's Jovan Buha as the leading candidates for the Lakers at the trade deadline.

This list included Collin Sexton, Kyle Kuzma, Bruce Brown, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, and Walker Kessler. NBA insider Jake Fischer recently confirmed this report and said Williams is near the top of the list for the Lakers in case they can't land their preferred center Jonas Valanciunas.

Williams is a better fit than Valanciunas for Los Angeles, but he has too many injury and availability concerns to make him an appealing option. Targeting him would be a big mistake.

"If it’s not Valanciunas, Portland’s Robert Williams III stands as perhaps the most coveted center on this season’s trade market. He’s another player on the Lakers’ wishlist of bigs and renowned for his defensive presence."

- NBA Insider Jake Fischer

The interest in Williams is certainly understandable. He is on a team-friendly contract, making $12.4 million this season and $13.2 million next year before becoming a free agent. At his best, he is an elite rim protector with the ability to switch out on the perimeter. He is one of the most versatile defensive big men in the league.

The issue is that he is rarely at his best. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, he has missed a total of 141 games and only appeared in 50 games. He has never played more than 61 games in a season. When he is available, he averages around 20 minutes per game.

The Lakers already lack depth in the frontcourt and are dealing with injuries to Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, and Jaxson Hayes. Plus, Anthony Davis' injury concerns are well documented. This team simply can't afford to have another injury-prone center in the rotation.

Williams has an intriguing upside. However, the Lakers need to go for more reliability. It is better to look elsewhere.

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