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Los Angeles Lakers: Lou Williams Agrees To A Three-Year Deal

By Chris Walton

Feb 6, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Lou Williams (23) goes to the basket past Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Clippers 123-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Lou Williams (23) goes to the basket past Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Clippers 123-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Four days into free agency had passed and the Los Angeles Lakers finally decided to make moves. One of the first began with acquiring big man Roy Hibbert in a trade with the Indiana Pacers. The next one was adding reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams. The Lakers agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth $21 million with the 10-year veteran.

The team started free agency with a little over $22.5 million in cap room in pursuit of a max-level talent. For the second summer in a row, the Lakers were looking to jumpstart the team’s competiveness in the Western Conference. The team is approaching the end of the Kobe Bryant era and must quickly find continuity for the future.

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After being spurned by LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe and DeAndre Jordan, the franchise must continue a traditional rebuild. Signing players like Lou Williams is a great start. As mentioned, he’s arguably the best reserve in the league. The Lakers backcourt is now full with D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Nick Young, and the aforementioned Bryant.

Williams is the definition of a professional scorer. He’s coming off of a career-high of 15.5 points per game last season with the Toronto Raptors. Williams’ creativity off the bounce and jump-shooting make him a formidable weapon. Since the 2006-07 season, Williams has scored in double-figures every season.

One of his best displays of his abilities was a matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Williams poured in a career-high of 36 points:

At age 28, Williams has a plethora of experience in the postseason (six times in his career). If the Lakers are going to get back to the playoffs, they’ll need his presence. As one of the last players to make the jump from high school to the NBA, a guy like Williams can aid Russell and their other young players in their adjustment to the NBA. That responsibility will no longer solely be on Kobe Bryant. With his reputation as being one of the least patient players in the league, Bryant would be more than willing to share this duty.

Many coaches would describe Williams as a combo guard. He’s not as willing to pass the ball as a lead (2.1 assists per game last year), and he doesn’t have the size of a shooting guard (6’1″). What Williams has done is become the prototype for finding a role in the league and flourishing.

Being in the spotlight of Los Angeles will also allow fans around the world to see how good of a player that he is. Williams has played in front of smaller fan-bases with the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors.

After playing in 80 games last season, Williams showed a great deal of resilience after tearing his ACL three seasons ago. Not many players regain their forms after such a serious knee injury. Williams has shown that he is healthy and can be an important piece to a team.

As he is added as a piece to the Lakers’ puzzle, the team can start to build the foundation they lacked going into this year’s free agency. Williams’ contract is certainly a bargain in free agent spending.  More importantly for the Lakers, his deal is a step in the right direction: Find solid players and add stars later.

Next: 2015 Free Agency Tracker

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