LOS ANGELES LAKERS
In a bid to upgrade the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis and attain a quality backup center with playoff experience to create a Twin Towers frontcourt with Anthony Davis in various situations, the Lakers acquire Robert Williams III for Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, and a 2029 lottery-protected Lakers first-rounder. When the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship, Dwight Howard played a pivotal role as a key rotational center alongside Anthony Davis. Robert Williams III can do the same for the Lakers and give them a quality true defender against Nikola Jokic, who has given the Lakers many problems in the past. En route to winning the 2020 NBA Championship, the Lakers defeated Nikola Jokic's Nuggets. Robert Williams III can deliver a similar impact as Dwight Howard during that postseason run for the current Lakers. As the Lakers aspire for maximum playoff success, they could go with the following starting lineup in certain playoff matchups:
D'Angelo Russell - Austin Reaves - LeBron James - Anthony Davis - Robert Williams III
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Portland acquires rebuilding assets and meets their asking price for Robert Williams III. Receiving a lottery-protected first-rounder in the 2029 NBA Draft is valuable for the Trail Blazers, since it is a first-rounder in a post-LeBron James era from the Lakers. Moreover, they receive a third-string point guard in Gabe Vincent and an expiring contract in Christian Wood. Portland's starting lineup is currently uncertain. Overall, Portland makes this trade for three reasons:
Salary Relief
Future Draft Capital
Center Logjam Resolution
The Lakers address a key rotational hole and maximize the shooting of their current roster by creating an elite defensive frontcourt of Anthony Davis and Robert Williams III. Portland receives long-term rebuilding assets with the future in mind. The first-rounder is lottery-protected.
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