When the Los Angeles Lakers missed out on Jonathan Kuminga, many wondered what the plan at starting forward was going to be without him. There are still external options to explore before the start of the season. However, this could come down to one of the guys already in Los Angeles.
Ziaire Williams had a strong case from the point of his arrival, and it is only getting better with each passing day. The former free agent inked a one-year deal in Los Angeles off the back of a career year with the Brooklyn Nets. There should be room for things to really take off with the Lakers.
A lot of that has to do with the mindset Williams is arriving with. Ziaire was saying all the things the Lakers should want to hear in his interview Benjamin Royer of OC Register.
"Luka [Doncic] and AR [Austin Reaves] are going to be the main primary ball handlers. So just playing off them, being able to shoot, cut, make plays in transition, stuff like that. They thought it was a great fit for me to be here, and the feeling was mutual."
Williams perfectly described how the ideal fifth starter would operate beside Doncic, Reaves, Walker Kessler and Quentin Grimes. The 24-year-old is doing more than just talking the talk, too.
Ziaire Williams is preparing himself perfectly for the Lakers' starting gig
Royer detailed that JJ Redick has already communicated the demand for defense to Williams, and the Lakers forward understands that. There has even been a physical transformation to aid the cause.
Williams has solid height and length, standing at 6-feet-9-inches with a wingspan of 6-foot-10. That has allowed him to be disruptive with his hands, averaging a career-high 1.4 steals in only 22.9 minutes per game last season. Now, Ziaire is also bulking up.
The former Nets forward was listed around 185 pounds for 2025-26. That was a relatively light weight for someone of his size. Williams told Royer that he is closer to about 215 pounds after this offseason.
Ziaire also spent this summer working on his jump shot. The Lakers got to see the improvements made firsthand at a workout before they signed him. Williams' 34.3 percent from deep was still below league average in 2025-26, but his 43.8 percent on wide-open attempts was encouraging.
Of the internal fifth-starter options the Lakers have, Ziaire has a strong case to be right at the top. The desire to see him start will only get amplified if his mindset, offseason work, and improvements can all showcase themselves at training camp.
Kuminga choosing Minnesota offered Williams an excellent opportunity for a breakout season with Los Angeles. The young forward appears to recognize that much as well as anyone.
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