With the injury bug biting the Lakers with both Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart out paired with the recent buyout of Corey Brewer, the Lakers have been in need of wing depth.
While the signing of Travis Wear to a 10-day deal has helped alleviate some of the problems, the Lakers are reportedly adding another wing player in veteran swingman Derrick Williams, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.
The Lakers plan to sign forward Derrick Williams to a 10-day contract today, league sources tell Yahoo. Williams, the former No. 2 overall pick, played in China this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 9, 2018
Williams spent time in the NBA last year with the Cleveland Cavaliers, turning a pair of 10-day contracts into a deal that lasted through the playoffs. In 25 regular season games, he averaged 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and shot 40.4 percent from three on 55 attempts. Williams featured in eight playoff games, averaging 2.6 points per game.
This year, Williams played with the Tianjin Ronggang Gold Lions in the Chinese Basketball Association. With the Gold Lions, Williams played in 15 games and averaged 20.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals while hitting 33.9 percent from three-point territory and 50.5 percent from the field.
With Ingram’s availability in question for the future, Williams could be a useful addition for the next few weeks with a pair of 10-day deals.
An initial 10-day deal, should it be finalized on Friday, would see Williams eligible for six games. A second 10-day deal, depending on when signed, could see him made available for six more games, should the Lakers decide to bring him back.
With Hart’s injury more long-term and his return this season questionable and with Brewer’s spot in the rotation unfilled, Williams could carve out a role with the Lakers that sees him stay for the end of the season.
