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Lakers head coach JJ Redick, right, listens as Rob Pelinka, President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, answers a question about the upcoming Lakers 2025-26 season at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo on September 25, 2025.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for defensive help has become increasingly urgent.
With the team currently ranked 26th in defensive efficiency, the Lakers have spent much of the season exploring ways to add reliable 3-and-D wings capable of stabilizing the perimeter. But with limited trade assets and few realistic paths to landing an elite two-way wing, league sources suggest Los Angeles is pivoting toward a smaller move — one that could still carry significant defensive impact.
That shift has brought a familiar name back into focus.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III is available on the trade market, reopening a door the Lakers have knocked on before.
“But what about the Suns and Trail Blazers?” Fischer wrote Thursday in The Stein Line. “Both teams are known to have made a center available for trade: Nick Richards in Phoenix and Robert Williams III in Portland.”
Robert Williams III Emerges as Viable Lakers Trade Target
Robert Williams was floated as a potential trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers
GettyRobert Williams was floated as a potential trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers
Williams, a former All-Defensive Second Team selection, has long intrigued teams seeking rim protection without compromising offensive efficiency. While injuries limited him to just 26 games over the previous two seasons, the 28-year-old center has been healthier this year — appearing in 29 games and averaging 6.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 15.9 minutes off the bench.
Perhaps most importantly for Los Angeles, Williams is on an expiring $13.3 million contract, making him a low-risk evaluation option and a flexible salary piece for a franchise operating near the first apron.
Williams’ game requires few touches to influence outcomes — a trait that fits seamlessly with a Lakers roster built around high-usage stars Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. His value lies in rim protection, vertical spacing, and defensive instincts rather than shot volume.
Frontcourt Depth Remains a Concern
With Jaxson Hayes (hamstring) currently sidelined, the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation has thinned considerably. Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber remain the primary bigs, leaving little margin for error should injuries or foul trouble arise.
Adding Williams would provide essential insurance behind Ayton while addressing two of Los Angeles’ most glaring weaknesses: interior defense and rebounding.
The Lakers have explored Williams in each of the past two trade cycles, but Portland previously refused to negotiate unless premium assets were included. With the Trail Blazers now reportedly softening their stance as they evaluate long-term flexibility, Williams’ price point could reset into a more attainable range.
Lakers’ Limited Assets Shape Trade Strategy
Despite renewed opportunity, Los Angeles’ asset cupboard remains thin.
The Lakers control just one tradable first-round pick — either 2031 or 2032 — along with a single second-round pick over the next seven years. While pick swaps could be included, Williams is unlikely to command a premium price, making a smaller, value-driven deal more realistic.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the Lakers have been canvassing the league for both perimeter defense and rim protection as the trade deadline approaches.
One Western Conference general manager told ESPN that Los Angeles is expected to prioritize cost-effective moves.
“They’re going to be looking for bargain deals and they might be able to find one if they’re willing to take on long-term money,” the executive said. “But they probably need to make sure that player is a good fit with Luka to justify it.”
Williams checks that box.
Smart Pivot?
One avenue Los Angeles continues to explore involves restructuring its draft capital.
According to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers have examined ways to flip their 2032 first-round pick into multiple selections — a strategy that could restore future flexibility.
“The Lakers have one tradable first-round pick and can trade up to five pick swaps, but they sit just $1.1 million below the first apron and aren’t permitted to exceed it,” O’Connor reported.
If successful, that maneuver could unlock additional trade constructions and expand the Lakers’ ability to pursue rotational upgrades.
Patience Still an Option for Lakers
While a Williams trade represents a pragmatic short-term solution, patience remains viable.
Bontemps and Windhorst noted that if the Lakers wait until July, they could have up to three tradable first-round picks along with increased cap and salary flexibility.
For now, however, Los Angeles appears focused on incremental gains — searching for defensive stability without mortgaging the future.
And in that calculus, Robert Williams III may once again fit the moment.