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LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, made comments after James picked up his player option that alluded to the all-time great not being happy with the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers roster. Some took this to mean that James wants to be traded, but more likely, he is just putting pressure on the Lakers' front office to make some moves. The most glaring thing the Lakers need to do is address the center position, so they should consider a trade for Robert Williams of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lakers' potential trade package for Robert Williams
Lakers receive: Robert Williams
Trail Blazers receive: Gabe Vincent, second-round pick
The Lakers deployed Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura at the center position in the postseason last year. That unsurprisingly led to their elimination in the first round. The lack of big-man depth was a byproduct of trading for Luka Doncic.
The deal for the Slovenian guard that shocked the NBA world was well worth it as it was one of the biggest trade fleeces ever and sets the Lakers up for success for the next decade. However, the departure of Anthony Davis left the team without interior scoring, rebounding, and rim protection.
Doncic and James will need someone who can fill those roles next season if the Lakers are to compete for the championship. So far through free agency and the NBA Draft, the position hasn't been addressed.
Paul said, “He [James] knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
James clearly isn't thrilled about the state of the Lakers ahead of what will likely be his last season or two in the NBA. Luckily, there are a few options to pursue for interior help. Deandre Ayton was recently bought out by the Trail Blazers, and the Lakers have reported interest in the former first overall pick.
Los Angeles could also pursue Ayton's old teammate, Robert Williams. The Trail Blazers still have a logjam in their center rotation, even after moving on from Ayton.
Donovan Clingan is the starter, but they also drafted Yang Hansen in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Additionally, Duop Reach can fill minutes and knock down 3-point shots from the pivot spot when need be. The Blazers might need to move Williams as well in order to better balance out the roster.
The Texas A&M product has often struggled with injuries throughout his career, but he'd be a worthwhile gamble for the Lakers because adding him would be a step in the right direction that Los Angeles could make without giving up much. Williams' injury history and the Trail Blazers' willingness to get rid of Ayton for nothing means that Portland might ship off Williams for cheap.
The Lakers only have to sacrifice Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick in this deal. When healthy, Williams is one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA. He'd likely also thrive catching lobs from James and Doncic, who are two of the best playmakers in the league.
Would the Trail Blazers trade Robert Williams?
The Trail Blazers have been active this offseason. In addition to shuffling around their center rotation, they made one of the biggest trades of the offseason when they sent out Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday. The ex-Boston Celtic is a two-time champion and one of the best defensive guards in NBA history.
That winning experience and play style could be valuable for Portland, but nonetheless, the trade received lots of criticism. Simons is the much younger player, and Holiday showed signs of regression last season. Simons, meanwhile, is just nearing his prime, and he has already scored 19-plus points per game in each of the last three seasons.
The Trail Blazers want to compete in the stacked Western Conference, so they likely will make more moves. The perplexing Holiday trade confirms that they are unpredictable, though. Trading Williams does make some sense, but it makes less sense after letting Ayton go, and there would be little reason to accept this underwhelming package from the Lakers.
