Ziaire Williams says Lakers want him to be ‘main defender’

Ziaire Williams is coming home, but the Lakers aren’t bringing him home just for the story.

Williams, who grew up in Lancaster, Calif., told Benjamin Royer of the Southern California News Group that his early conversations with coach JJ Redick and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka have focused heavily on defense.

“First and foremost, being a main defender, point-of-attack defender,” Williams said.

That makes plenty of sense. The 6-foot-9 Williams signed a one-year deal with the Lakers after spending the past two seasons with the Nets. He’s also added some weight this summer, telling Royer he’s up to around 215 pounds.

Williams has been working on his jumper and finishing at the rim, too. But it sounds as if Los Angeles has a fairly specific job in mind: Defend. Use his size. Make life a little easier for everybody else.

Williams, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, said basketball reasons were ultimately why he chose the Lakers, though playing close to home certainly didn’t hurt.

“I just thought it was a great opportunity,” Williams said. “Being that big wing, versatile player that they needed, I just thought it was a great opportunity for me to be a Laker.”

Williams played his high school ball at Sierra Canyon and grew up about 70 miles from downtown Los Angeles. “Being back home in L.A. is the cherry on top,” he said.

Now comes the important part. The Lakers have plenty of players who want the basketball. Williams may have found himself an opportunity by embracing everything that happens when he doesn’t have it.