The Lakers are rolling the dice on a buy-low option on the wing.
After having his team option declined by the Nets, Ziaire Williams has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Lakers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Considering the Lakers are over the cap, have no other mechanism to sign a player and Shams loves to inflate
contract numbers as favors to agents, this is almost certainly a veteran’s minimum contract. Williams will make $2.8 million, but it will only count as $2.4 million toward the Lakers’ cap.
A 6’9” wing who is still just 24 years old, Williams was always a teammate of Bronny James at Sierra Canyon in high school. Last season in Brooklyn, he averaged 10.2 points per game in 56 contests, shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from three.
Williams’ jumper is a work in progress as that mark was the best of his career. Across five seasons in Memphis and New York, Williams has shot 32.2% from the field.
However, he is a wing with athleticism and size, two things the Lakers currently lack.
This live story will be updated.
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