The NBA trade deadline is the league's version of a high-stakes poker game, and right now, Rob Pelinka seems to be holding a very specific hand. For weeks, the chatter around Crypto.com Arena has been about finding that elusive perimeter stopper. But lately, the signal has shifted. Reports are surfacing that the Lakers are emerging as favorites to acquire Robert Williams III from the Portland Trail Blazers.
It sounds like a classic Lakers move, doesn't it? Go after the high-upside name with a resume of elite production but a "proceed with caution" sign permanently taped to his medical folder. Yet, in the context of this 2025-26 season, the logic is hard to ignore.
The Time Lord in Tinseltown?
Honestly, the fit is almost too clean. We've seen JJ Redick try to patch together a defensive identity with a roster that, frankly, has been leaking oil on that end. Currently ranked near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency, the Lakers are desperate. They need a backstop. They need someone who can let Deandre Ayton—who they snagged earlier this season—breathe for a few minutes without the lead evaporating.
Robert Williams III, affectionately known as "Time Lord," is that guy when he’s right. We aren't talking about the version of Williams who played six games two years ago. We’re talking about the guy who has managed to stay relatively upright this season in Portland. Through 29 games, he’s been giving the Blazers about 16 minutes of chaos off the bench, swatting 1.3 shots and grabbing over 6 boards per night. He doesn't need the ball. He just needs to jump.
For a team led by Luka Dončić and LeBron James, a vertical threat like Williams is basically a cheat code. Imagine Luka coming off a screen and having a lob threat like Williams lurking on the baseline while LeBron occupies the weak side. It’s a defensive nightmare.
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Why Portland is Ready to Deal
Portland is in a bit of a logjam. They’ve got the young towers—Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen—who need minutes to grow. Williams is 28 now. He’s on an expiring $13.3 million contract. For Joe Cronin and the Blazers' front office, the calculus is simple: do you let a valuable asset walk for nothing in the summer, or do you take what you can get from a desperate contender now?
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line has already flagged that Williams is available. The price? Likely not the "king’s ransom" Portland was asking for a year ago. We're looking at a "value-driven" deal.
What the Trade Package Looks Like
If the Lakers are going to pull this off, they have to be surgical. They don't have a surplus of picks. They’ve got one tradable first-rounder in 2031 or 2032 and a handful of second-rounders that they’ve been guarding like heirlooms.
The money has to match, too. The Lakers are sitting dangerously close to the first apron—about $1.1 million below it, to be precise.
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- Rui Hachimura or Gabe Vincent are the names that keep popping up in salary matching.
- Jaxson Hayes is currently sidelined with a hamstring issue, which makes the need for Williams even more pressing.
- Dalton Knecht, the second-year wing, is the "sweetener" Portland might demand.
Losing Knecht would sting. He’s shown flashes of being a legitimate rotation piece. But if you’re the Lakers and you’re trying to win while LeBron is still playing at an All-Star level, you make that trade ten times out of ten. You can't win a title without a rim protector who can switch.
The Health Gamble
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Robert Williams III and "healthy" aren't usually in the same sentence. He’s had more knee scopes than some people have had oil changes.
But here is why the risk is lower than usual: the contract. Because it's an expiring deal, the Lakers aren't married to him long-term. If he gets hurt in March, it’s a bummer, but it doesn't handicap their 2027 cap space. If he stays healthy? You just landed a former All-Defensive Second Team center for a fraction of his peak value.
One Western Conference scout recently noted that Williams’ instincts haven't faded. He still has that "pogo stick" athleticism. In a limited 15-minute role behind Ayton, he might actually be able to survive a full playoff run.
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Why the Odds Favor LA
Bovada and other sportsbooks have shifted the Lakers to the top of the list at +185 to land him. Why? Because the other suitors have issues.
- The Celtics: A reunion would be poetic, but they are already deep in the luxury tax and might prefer a cheaper option like Nick Richards.
- The Bucks: They need help, but they have even fewer assets than LA.
- The Warriors: They’ve looked at Williams before, but their focus seems to be on a bigger offensive splash.
The Luka Factor
Everything in LA now revolves around Luka Dončić. If you’re going to trade for a player, they have to fit "Luka-ball." Williams is a perfect screen-setter and a terrifying roll man. He clears out space just by existing near the rim.
The Lakers have been trying to play small-ball to compensate for their lack of depth, but in the West, that’s a death sentence against teams like San Antonio with Victor Wembanyama or the Nuggets with Jokic. You need bodies. You need fouls to give. Williams gives you six fouls and a whole lot of intimidation.
Actionable Next Steps for the Lakers Front Office
The trade deadline is February 5th. If the Lakers want to capitalize on this "favorite" status, they need to act before a bidding war starts with the Knicks or the Suns.
- Finalize the medical review: They need a deep dive into Williams' current knee stability before shipping out any picks.
- Decide on the "Untouchables": Is Dalton Knecht truly off the table for a rental? If Portland insists, Pelinka has to decide if rim protection is the priority over wing depth.
- Structure for the Second Apron: Ensure any incoming salary doesn't trigger a hard cap that prevents them from using the buyout market later in February.
This isn't just about a name. It's about a specific defensive hole that has been gaping wide for months. If the Lakers are emerging as favorites to acquire Robert Williams III, it’s because they finally realize that stars win games, but rim protection wins series.
Keep an eye on the "DNP - Rest" designations in Portland over the next week. That’s usually the first sign a deal is in the works.