The Los Angeles Lakers officially inked forward Ziaire Williams this past Monday, locking him down for a one-year veteran minimum contract worth $3 million. This isn’t just another name on a roster; it’s a direct shot at fixing one of the team’s biggest problems, because let’s be real, that bench needs some serious work.
The Skinny on Ziaire Williams
So, who are we talking about here? Williams is a 6-foot-9, 24-year-old forward, pretty lean at about 185 pounds. He’s mostly played the ‘3’ position, and the word on the street is he’s a capable defender, super athletic. Now, don’t get it twisted, he isn’t exactly a sharpshooter from beyond the arc. His 3-point percentage last season with the Brooklyn Nets was 34.3%, which isn’t lighting the world on fire, but the good news is he’s apparently shown improvement there over the last couple of years. He averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes a game for the Nets last season. He’s young, so there’s still that “upward potential” everyone talks about, especially with his outside shooting. He’s officially going to rock jersey No. 11.
A Desperate Need For Bench Scoring
The Lakers clearly had a glaring hole when it came to wing and forward depth, and let’s not forget they desperately needed more 3-point threats. Williams signing that one-year deal directly addresses that need. Here’s the kicker: Williams is likely coming off the bench. And if you watched the Lakers last season, you know why that’s a big deal. Their bench scoring was abysmal, ranking 29th in the entire league! That’s almost dead last, folks. Now, with Williams on board, they’re hoping to piece together a “decent bench.” He’s expected to join guys like Collin Sexton, and potentially Sandro Mamukelashvili and rookie Cameron Carr, to actually provide some offense. Can they finally turn that bench around? It’s a huge question mark hanging over the team.
This deal became official on Sunday, and for the Lakers, it’s all about what this new group can do together. With such a low bar set by last season’s bench, Williams and the other new faces have a real chance to make an impact. The pressure is on for this bench to step up and prove they’re not just filling roster spots, but actually contributing when it matters.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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