The Lakers are officially moving forward with a revamped team built around superstar Luka Dončić this summer, and they clearly had a specific identity in mind: defense, youth, and athleticism. Head coach JJ Redick and his crew took a flyer on a young wing who perfectly fits that mold: Ziaire Williams. This 25-year-old wing has spent five years playing on middling teams without a true creator like Dončić or Austin Reaves to elevate his game, but his tape and stats hint at something huge brewing.
Defensive Disruptor Extraordinaire
Look, when you’re talking about a 6-foot-9 lanky wing, you want a defensive stopper, right? Well, Williams is exactly that, and then some. He’s the guy you want next to Los Angeles’ star backcourt, disrupting everything. Last season, according to BBall Index, this dude ranked in the 91st percentile in defensive matchup difficulty. Think about that: he’s taking on the tough assignments and excelling. He was also in the 87th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, proving he can lock down top-tier perimeter players. But wait, there’s more! His passing lane defense was in the 97th percentile, and he snagged 96th percentile in deflections per 75 possessions. We’re talking about a consummate disruptor, both on and off the ball. He causes the exact type of chaos a defense needs to win, and now he’s on a team with serious aspirations. Can you imagine the headaches he’s gonna give opposing offenses?
Unlocking His Offensive Game with Dončić and Reaves
Now, let’s talk offense. Williams’ shortcomings on that end might just be a byproduct of his previous situations. Seriously, he was often tasked with creating offense all by himself in Brooklyn, which is absolutely not his ideal role. He’s meant to play off the ball, as a spacer. Last season, he shot 34.3% from beyond the arc and 33.9% on catch-and-shoot threes. Those numbers might look just middle-of-the-pack, but here’s where it gets wild: BBall Index showed his overall 3-point openness rating was in the NINTH percentile. N-I-N-T-H! And his catch-and-shoot shot quality was in the 27th percentile. This guy was taking contested shots all the time! Now, playing alongside the natural gravity that Dončić and Reaves create, Williams is going to see wide-open looks. He finally has the chance to flash those off-ball spacing skills.
What’s Next for Williams and the Lakers?
It’s early in the season, but the buzz around this new-look Lakers squad is real. With Williams finally getting to play his ideal role next to elite creators like Dončić and Reaves, the sky’s the limit for his offensive game, complementing his already elite defense. The question isn’t if he can disrupt, it’s how much damage he can do when given quality looks. We’re all gonna be watching closely to see if he can truly emerge as that perfect two-way wing for Los Angeles.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
Leave a Reply