Ziaire Williams impressed the Lakers in preseason workouts and could be a starting option at power forward, The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported. Coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka said the final two lineup spots will be decided after training camp and preseason.
At Thursday’s season-opening press conference, Redick and Pelinka named Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler as starting-lineup locks. Woike described Quentin Grimes’ four-year, $60 million contract as starting-level money and said Matisse Thybulle could also be a starter option.
Williams, 24, signed a one-year Lakers contract in July after posting the highest scoring average of his career with Brooklyn. Nets reporter Conner Long told Lakers insider Jovan Buha that Williams had played all five positions during the year; Long said that showed some coaching-staff trust in his ability to defend bigger players.
