The Los Angeles Lakers have permanently altered the trajectory of the organization. With a trade that blindsided fans and analysts around the NBA, Los Angeles has firmly committed to Luka Doncic rather than Anthony Davis as its franchise player.
In order to make the most of this new partnership, the Lakers must complete a trade that would accentuate Doncic's strengths and mask his flaws.
Thankfully, there's an ideal trade that the Lakers can consider, if not outright pursue. It's a deal that would acknowledge Doncic's shortcomings on defense, the void that Davis leaves behind in that same area, and the general need for improvement at a key position.
It remains unclear what the Lakers would need to include to meet the asking price, but the perfect target appears to be Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III.
Williams has appeared in just 58 games since the start of the 2022-23 regular season. That's a fact that must be readily acknowledged before any discussion about how he fits on the court can transpire, as the injury concerns are extensive and valid.
With just one additional season remaining on his team-friendly contract, however, Williams could be worth the risk of acquiring ahead of the trade deadline.
Robert Williams III would be a high-risk, high-reward Lakers trade target
Williams, 27, has earned the reputation of one of the better defensive bigs in the NBA. While his offensive limitations position him to operate as more of a rim-runner than a truly multifaceted option, his presence on defense could prove invaluable.
An elite shot-blocker whose rebounding numbers and rim protection have enabled him to play winning basketball, Williams can be a force of nature down low.
Williams has appeared in 17 games since making his 2024-25 regular season debut on Nov. 8. During that time, he's posted averages of 5.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 offensive boards, 1.0 assist, 1.7 blocks, and 0.6 steals in just 17.3 minutes per contest.
Those numbers translate to 12.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.7 offensive boards, 2.1 assists, 3.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per 36 minutes—all of which are comparable to his career averages of 12.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.5 offensive boards, 2.5 assists, 2.9 blocks, and 1.3 steals per 36.
The risk factor is undeniable, but that shouldn't prevent the Lakers from kicking the proverbial tires. Portland lacks any discernible leverage due to the injury concerns, which could enable Los Angeles to offer a reserve and a second-round draft pick to get the conversation going.
From there, it's a matter of risking the 2025-26 season at an expiring $13,285,713 before potentially allowing Williams to walk in free agency.
In the event that the risk pays off, Williams can operate alongside Doncic in a similar manner to Daniel Gafford. His presence as a rim protector can help mask some of Doncic's flaws on defense, while his ability to work the pick and roll and throw down lobs could prove invaluable on offense.
There's no way around how risky this trade would be based on injury history, but Williams would be an excellent complement to Doncic if Los Angele can procure a clean bill of health.