LOS ANGELES — Ziaire Williams on Monday became one of the first targets of the NBA’s increased focus on flopping, when the league fined the Lakers forward $2,000 for a play during Sunday’s game against the Utah Jazz.
Jazz rookie guard Darryn Peterson extended his arm toward Williams’ chest, and Williams jumped backward, forcing Peterson into an offensive foul while the Lakers trailed the Jazz by one point with 4:44 left in the fourth quarter.
The NBA says, however, that Williams exaggerated the contact and therefore, was fined. The Lakers went on to defeat the Jazz, 132-123, thanks to Luka Doncic’s 52-point display in Salt Lake City.
Williams said he didn’t get any feedback from the league on the fine and said he plans on appealing the ruling.
“That’s just what the league did, man,” Williams said Tuesday at shootaround. “Do I agree with it? Not necessarily, but I mean, it’s the league’s rule, so whatever they say, that’s how it goes. I’ll pay my fine and, you know, if I got to flop again to get a win, then that’s what I’ll do.”
The 25-year-old wing added that how NBA officials call flopping throughout the season won’t impact how he’s going to play defense.
“I’m always going to do whatever it takes to win,” he said.
CARR GETTING CLOSER
Lakers first-round draft pick Cameron Carr practiced with the Coachella Valley Lakers on Tuesday as he continues his comeback from a right oblique strain that sidelined the rookie during the preseason.
Coachella Valley, which relocated from El Segundo (South Bay) this season, released its training camp roster for the upcoming G League season on Monday and practiced at the Lakers’ practice facility on Tuesday, a team source said.
The league mandates that teams report whether a fully-guaranteed contract player practices or plays in a game with their G League team.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Carr, the No. 24 overall pick in June’s draft, joined the G League squad for practices because of the lack of scheduled practices ahead for the Lakers, who will play five games in a stretch of seven nights.
Carr, 21, was able to go through a full practice with the G League squad, Redick said. While Carr was able to do some upper-body conditioning while injured, Redick added that the 6-foot-5 wing needs to be “able to take hits” and “be in shape” before suiting up for NBA action.
“We needed him to be able to get through a full practice,” Redick said. “So that’s probably a very important step.”
Carr played in two preseason games for the Lakers and had a solid showing in their preseason opener in Sacramento, recording 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting while going 3 for 7 from 3-point range.
Second-year forward Adou Thiero (left knee swelling) remains out. During shootaround on Tuesday morning before the Lakers hosted the Portland Trail Blazers in the evening, the explosive wing conducted conditioning drills alongside assistant coach Ty Abbott.