The league's worst-kept secret is just how much the Los Angeles Lakers want to improve the frontcourt playing with Luka Doncic for next season. The options to strengthen that positional group continue to drop like flies after the latest free agency news from Shams Charania.
"Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III has agreed to sign a three-year, $44 million contract extension to return to the Portland Trail Blazers through 2028-29, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tells ESPN."
Even with his obvious health concerns, Williams stood out as one of the top unrestricted options that was projected to be available on the free agent market. The Blazers took him off the board before the process even started. What now, Rob Pelinka?
This latest move adds to a long list of center targets, available either via trade or free agency, suddenly disappearing from right in front of the Lakers' grasp. With options dwindling, Los Angeles may be forced to go big or go home in their pursuit of upgrading the frontcourt.
Lakers landing either Walker Kessler or Jalen Duren is becoming increasingly important
Williams is the latest name to be out of reach for the Lakers. He joins a long list of big men who have been eliminated from contention for Los Angeles.
Nic Claxton got traded for nothing to the Chicago Bulls. Isaiah Stewart was similarly dealt away from the Detroit Pistons to the Memphis Grizzlies for very little in return. Day'Ron Sharpe got re-signed by the Brooklyn Nets. The Oklahoma City Thunder similarly refused to let Isaiah Hartenstein hit the open market.
Prying away a restricted free agent like Jalen Duren or Walker Kessler is always difficult. However, it may just be the best (and possibly only) game in town.
Duren and Kessler have both displayed plenty of discontent with their current franchises. Both the Pistons and the Utah Jazz have shown some resistance when it comes to paying them.
With the latest news of LeBron James telling the Lakers to move on without him, the franchise will have plenty of money to work with as soon as his rights are renounced. That gives them more than enough to throw an offer sheet or work on a sign-and-trade with either of the bigs on the market.
Luka wanted an A-list center in Los Angeles. The Lakers may truly have no choice but to give him that much.
Add us as a preferred source on Google