The Los Angeles Lakers' free agency spending spree came as a result of the decision to pivot away from LeBron James and surround Luka Doncic with as much talent as possible. That search has led them to former Brooklyn Nets wing Ziaire Williams, and the Stanford product is returning to California.
The Lakers agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with Williams after the Nets filled up all of their roster spots. While he took some steps forward as a player, he never developed into the offensive force many assumed he would be when he was coming into the NBA. Perhaps Los Angeles believes he still has room to grow?
The Lakers clearly think that joining JJ Redick will be the secret ingredient that unlocks Williams, who has fallen far from his peak as the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. If that 3-pointer starts falling, Williams could provide some marvelous value for Rob Pelinka.
Lakers sign Ziaire Williams to one-year contract
As is always the case with players who have career years on bad teams, their production must be graded on a curve. Sure, Williams did average 10.1 points per game over the last two seasons and looked much better on both ends of the floor than he did in Memphis, but those numbers came on a tanking team and were often improved upon by other role players.
Williams' 34% 3-point percentage with the Nets, which is better than the 30% he shot with the Grizzlies, is his biggest flaw. Essentially, Williams is a 3-and-D player with no 3, and that has severely limited his upside. Being coached by Redick and playing alongside an offensive hub like Doncic may give him the crispest open looks he'll get in the NBA.
Williams was near the top of the league in deflections per minute last season, and his defense transitioned from being theoretically good to just regular good. However, the Nets had the opportunity to bring him back for just $6 million with tons of cap space, yet they chose Josh Minott over him.
If Williams hits, the Lakers could get a quality bench piece who provides what the backups have lacked in recent years. With Dalton Knecht and rookie Cameron Carr also fighting for space, LA now has someone with half a decade of NBA experience who could guard against one of those two failing to step up.
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