The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the early part of the season looking like a team built for the long run. They sit second in the West at 16-6, and with Deandre Ayton anchoring the middle, they have found an identity in the paint that travels from night to night.
But even with Ayton playing at a high level, the rotation behind him remains thin. The Lakers have relied on smaller lineups, matchup adjustments and stretches without a true rim protector. It has worked in moments, but the margin is tight. For a team trying to keep pace with the West’s top tier, one more stabilizing piece in the frontcourt would help.
That is where one recent idea comes in.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale mentioned Robert Williams III as a name the Lakers could evaluate. The former All-Defensive center has battled injuries in Portland, but when he is right, he is the type of disruptive big who can tilt a playoff series.
Why Williams Makes Sense for Los Angeles
Williams fits the identity the Lakers lean on. He protects the rim, plays above the basket and covers ground in a way most centers cannot. His timing as a shot blocker remains elite. His mobility allows him to survive switches. And his vertical threat gives any guard a clean lob target in the half court.
He also gives the Lakers something they do not currently have behind Ayton. A second big with real defensive presence. Someone who can keep the paint secure when the starters rest. Someone who changes possessions through energy and anticipation.
At his best, Williams was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Boston. That version may not be realistic every night, but even a scaled-down form of it solves a clear rotation need in Los Angeles.
How He Would Fit Into the Rotation
The goal might not be to replace Ayton, but to strengthen what sits behind him.
Williams gives the Lakers the ability to stay big in more matchups. He allows them to protect the rim without overworking Ayton. He creates flexibility in defensive coverages, giving the staff options between switching, drop and hybrid looks.
He also helps stabilize bench units that can drift when the offense slows. His screening, short-roll reads and lob finishing offer simple solutions without needing touches. For a team built on structure and discipline, a player who fits into that framework matters.
What the Lakers Must Consider
The appeal is clear. So is the risk.
Williams has struggled to stay healthy. That uncertainty is part of what makes him attainable, but it also forces the Lakers to weigh how much they are willing to invest. The Portland Trail Blazers are developing younger bigs and could move him, but they will still want value in return.
The Lakers could also consider their other needs. Favale mentioned adding another perimeter stopper such as Herb Jones or Dillon Brooks if the market allows, and that argument carries weight. A versatile wing defender give the rotation more balance.
That is why any decision involving Williams has to be viewed within the broader roster picture. He fills a real need, but so would another big wing. The Lakers have multiple paths they can explore as the deadline approaches. Williams is a strong fit. He is just not the only fit.
The Verdict for the Lakers
Robert Williams III gives the Lakers size, mobility and defensive disruption at a position where depth has been tested. If Portland keeps the price reasonable, he is a smart swing. A low-cost, high-upside addition who strengthens the rotation without altering the structure of the team.
But the Lakers do not need to force the move. They are competitive as constructed, and their front office has options.
If the window opens, Williams fits. If it doesn’t, Los Angeles is building something solid anyway.
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