LAS VEGAS — The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Ziaire Williams, a source confirmed to the California Post on Monday. Williams’ deal will be for $3 million, and will put them at 15 players signed to standard roster contracts once the addition becomes official.
The 6-foot-9 Williams, who was born in Lancaster, grew up in Southen California, playing at Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks for his first three years of high school before transferring to Sierra Canyon for his senior year.
Williams, who was a consensus five-star recruit, was a 2020 McDonald’s All-American before playing at Stanford. He was teammates for a season with fellow Lakers guard Bronny James, who was a freshman during Williams’ senior season.
After his single season at Standard, Williams was the No. 10 pick in the 2021 draft, playing for the Grizzlies from 2021-24 before spending the last two seasons with the Nets.
Williams is a player the Lakers eyed after the Nets declined Williams’ $6.3 million team option for 2026-27 to make him an unrestricted free agent. He’s coming off a career-year, averaging a career-high 10.2 points on 42.5% shooting (career-high 34.3% on 3-pointers) to go with 2.4 rebounds in 56 games. Williams has career averages of 8.7 points and 3 rebounds. He was a key reserve for the Grizzlies teams that made the playoffs after the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Williams, who turns 25 in September, addresses the Lakers’ need for wing/forward depth. He’s been a strong perimeter defender – on the ball in isolation and off-ball – throughout his career and has improved as a shooter since coming into the league.
Even with the addition of Williams, the Lakers remain interested in unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, who was mutual interest in the franchise.
