The 2026 NBA Playoffs have been off to an incredible start for the Los Angeles Lakers with back-to-back wins at home in their opening round series with the Houston Rockets. Although LA has a commanding 2-0 lead over Houston, that shouldn't stop fans and the team's front office from looking forward to the offseason.
The Lakers have just six players on guaranteed deals heading into the summer. This team could look completely different next season. With a massive amount of expected cap space, many fans have predicted this team will address major needs like 3-point shooting and size to round out a better roster around Luka Doncic.
The center position has been rather flawed for LA this season. Deandre Ayton has enjoyed good stretches, but he has also been inconsistent.
For this reason, it wouldn't be a surprise to see general manager Rob Pelinka pursue the center market this summer. Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III, who is set to hit unrestricted free agency, could be a potential candidate for the purple and gold.
Williams just had his healthiest season since his Boston Celtics days. Despite that, making a financial commitment to him this summer in free agency, given the injury risks he brings, is too big of a chance to take.
Lakers can't afford to swing and miss on another center this summer
On paper, Williams does everything this Lakers team wants in a center that is going to share the court with Luka. The "Time Lord" is a great lob threat and play finisher, rebounds hard, has great rim-protecting instincts, and is starting to flash that he may add an outside shot to his arsenal.
However, given that he had been almost watching from the sidelines for three whole seasons prior to this past regular season, investing in him this summer could totally backfire.
The tandem of Ayton and Jaxson Hayes was good enough for the Lakers to achieve a 50-plus win season and a top-four seed out West. This proves that when you have the star power LA has, you don't need much from the five spot.
The most important thing is availability. With Williams, that availability is simply not guaranteed.
Sure, he was once viewed as a top-10 center in the eyes of many back in 2021-22 when he finished top seven in Defensive Player of the Year voting that season. What he's done with the Trail Blazers this season could be step one to getting back there, but it could also just be an outlier healthy season that isn't sustainable.
Even though Williams may appear to be the exact type of center the Lakers have been searching for, the risk is much higher than the reward. For that reason, Pelinka must steer clear.