It’s late August, which means most teams are done with their main offseason business. The Los Angeles Lakers are not among that group.
The Lakers still have two glaring roster holes to fill, including power forward and especially backup center, where the Lakers have no dependable option behind the newly-acquired Walker Kessler. (With all due respect to three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney.)
Over in Charlotte, Grant Williams, a 6-foot-7 forward who has become one of the more reliable 3-and-D forwards, is one name worth looking at.
Williams shot 38.8 percent from the 3-point line last season while holding opponents to just 37.9 percent shooting from the field. That’s elite, albeit in limited games. A proven playoff contributor, especially during his time with the Boston Celtics, Williams may be a player worth paying a bit of a price for.
Here’s a simple trade framework that could bring him to L.A.
Lakers receive: Grant Williams and a 2030 second round pick (from LAC, via TOR)
Clippers receive: Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht
Hornets receive: a 2031 second round pick (from LAL, via WAS)
This trade is hypothetical and intended to explore one way the Lakers could address their need for a power forward while allowing Charlotte to shed salary and trim roster count. The Clippers would add two young players to develop.
Why the Trade Makes Sense for the Lakers
GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 10: Grant Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball over Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half of a basketball game at Spectrum Center on April 10, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
The Lakers are searching for a capable two-way player at forward, as evidenced by their ongoing pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga. Williams may not have the youth or upside of Kuminga, but he is a proven player, especially in a playoff setting.
The 27-year-old averaged 7.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 36 games for Charlotte last season, playing a modest 19.8 minutes per game. More importantly for the Lakers, he knocked down nearly 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. Williams has cashed 37.8 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc over his career.
Williams attempted 3.7 threes per game last season, meaning nearly three-quarters of his field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc. His 73.2 percent 3-point attempt rate ranked as another indication of how comfortable he is operating as a catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter on offense.
Williams entered the NBA as the 22nd overall pick in 2019 after becoming a two-time SEC Player of the Year at Tennessee, and he has played 416 regular-season games over seven seasons.
Why the Hornets Could Make the Trade
The Hornets would send out Williams’ $14.2 million salary and receive no player in return, instead picking up a future second round pick from the Lakers.
That means Charlotte would remove roughly $14 million from its books a year earlier while adding to their war chest.
Meanwhile, the Clippers would get their hands on Hardy and Knecht without taking on additional salary, using its existing trade exception to facilitate the deal.
For the Lakers, Williams could be a long-term option if his injury troubles turn around. Part of the reason why the Lakers need a power forward is because Jarred Vanderbilt, whom they acquired ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, has been rarely available.
Williams has only appeared in 52 games over the last two seasons. Before then, he was mostly durable.
Projected NBA Trade Gives Lakers Elite 3-and-D PF to Pair With Luka Doncic