The Los Angeles Lakers are patiently waiting until 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday to begin their formal free agency window. As likely a cap space team, agreeing to a deal too early might trigger a tampering investigation by the league. There are many targets — including Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III — that have been linked to the Lakers, though.
Williams was seen as one of the top centers on the free agent market. Despite injuries hampering him to 85 total games played over his last three seasons and playing in only 44.8% of total possible games in his eight-year career, he was still highly coveted due to his skillset as a rim protector and lob threat. But it appears he will not hit the market at all, agreeing to an extension with the Trail Blazers Tuesday morning, via Shams Charania of ESPN:
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III has agreed to sign a three-year, $44 million contract extension to return to the Portland Trail Blazers through 2028-29, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HKVhuQkojM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026
The Lakers easily could have afforded Williams at the three-year, $44 million figure that he got from Portland. However, the question becomes if Williams is worth the risk of a multi-year deal. His injury history is significant, and the Lakers need someone who can be a long-term fit next to Luka Doncic.
On the other hand, the center market is extremely slim. Williams represented arguably the best available big man, alongside New York Knicks backup Mitchell Robinson, among unrestricted free agents. This leaves the Lakers in a spot where they either have to land Robinson, or acquire a center via a different means.
Of course, anything is still possible, given that free agency has not even officially begun. But seeing a top target get taken off the board is never what teams want to see.
Lakers have interest in Sandro Mamukelashvili
Another big man the Lakers have reported interest in is Toronto Raptors center Sandro Mamukelashvili. The 27-year-old does not represent a perfect fit next to Doncic or his demands for an A-List center, but he would be among the best backups available on the open market, and seems to be very gettable for L.A.
Mamukelashvili is a stretch big that shot 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three for the Raptors last season while playing in 21.9 minutes per game and missing only two games.
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