Celtics and Lakers named top landing spots for $48 million elite rim protector
· Yahoo Sports
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The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are two teams that will be in the market for a center this offseason.
If Nikola Vucevic departs in free agency, Boston will be left without a true starting center. Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are solid players, but neither is a viable full-time starting option.
DeAndre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes will be free agents for the Lakers, and with Los Angeles already re-signing Austin Reaves to a big-time extension, along with LeBron James and Rui Hachimura being free agents, Ayton and Hayes could be the odd men out in Los Angeles, leaving the center position in disarray.
Luckily for the Celtics and Lakers, there will be a plethora of centers available in the free-agent and trade market in the coming weeks, including a former All-Defensive star.
Lakers and Celtics linked to Robert Williams in NBA free agency
Pro Football Network's Cooper Kleinberg listed Boston and Los Angeles as the top landing spots for Portland Trail Blazers free agent center Robert Williams.
"Robert Williams III may be the odd man out in Portland, as they already have two valuable young centers in Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen," Kleinberg wrote.
Williams was pretty productive in a limited role with the Blazers in 2025, averaging 6.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. When healthy, the 28-year-old is one of the best shot blockers in the sport, but injuries have always been a concern for Williams.
Obviously, a return to the Celtics would make a ton of sense for both sides. Williams experienced his best seasons in Boston, especially in 2021, when he was a second-team All-Defense selection and nearly averaged a double-double. Williams would immediately step in as the Celtics' starting center and provide the dominant rim protection they lacked for most of last year,
Signing with the Lakers is also an option for Williams. Though the Texas A&M product wouldn't upgrade the Lakers' offense much, he would be a nice fit with Luka Doncic as a lob threat and bolster JJ Redick's defense.
Additionally, Williams shouldn't cost too much to sign, so the Lakers could easily add him while still having the funds to retain James and possibly Hachimura.
Overall, Williams is one of the more under-the-radar free agents this offseason, but he could be a valuable piece to a contending team, so look for Los Angeles and Boston to pursue the veteran shot-blocking big man.