The Los Angeles Lakers’ frontcourt issues were magnified during their five-game first-round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. As such, the Luka Dončić and LeBron James-led squad is widely expected to target a proven big man this offseason. However, PFSN’s Bjorn Bergstrom believes the organization could also fortify its center depth in the 2025 NBA Draft.
LA became extremely thin at the five spot after shipping superstar big man Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Dončić at the trade deadline. While the franchise was hailed for the move, it struggled to match up against Minnesota’s star frontcourt duo of Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle in Round 1.
The Lakers don’t own their first-round pick this year, as it was conveyed to the Atlanta Hawks via the New Orleans Pelicans as part of their 2019 Davis deal. That leaves their No. 55 second-round pick as their first opportunity to address their biggest weakness through the draft.
While this year’s crop of second-rounders is projected to be shallow, one skilled center prospect with five years of college experience could still be on the board.
Amari Williams Pegged As Potential Selection for Lakers at No. 55
In his May 22 piece on LA’s draft options at No. 55, Bergstrom named Kentucky center Amari Williams as an intriguing frontcourt target.
Between his interior defense, rebounding, physicality, and court vision, Williams is considered a prospect who possesses the tools to become a versatile rotation-level NBA big man. According to Bergstrom, the Nottingham, England native’s intangibles and dynamic skill set could make him a worthwhile investment for the Lakers.
However, the analyst noted that Williams, whose offensive repertoire is limited, wouldn’t entirely solve the veteran-laden team’s frontcourt problems.
“Immediately bringing size (7’0″, 262 pounds) to the frontcourt, Amari Williams is a good mover and showed solid instincts with the ball during his fifth-year senior season with the Wildcats,” Bergstrom wrote.
“… He was a physical presence in the paint while also participating in pick-and-roll sets and dribble handoffs. While he’s not expected to be a game-changer, the Lakers would be wise to add the size and skill Williams offers at this spot.”
Cool write up on Amari Williams ahead of the NBA Draft (per https://t.co/kjfvRbecv8)
“Williams is a rare 7-foot center: physical, agile, and a pass-first playmaker. Elite vision, short-roll facilitation, and defensive versatility make him a potential late first-round NBA pick.… pic.twitter.com/8h3g3jzSLI
— Certified Kentucky (@certkentucky_) May 9, 2025
Across 36 outings at Kentucky, Williams averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 56.1%. He did so in just 22.8 minutes a night, increasing optimism about his upside.
Williams Could Develop Into Lakers’ Backup Center
Despite not being a high-profile draft prospect, Williams has garnered comparisons to former NBA big man Aron Baynes. The nine-year pro thrived on physicality before expanding his offensive game later in his career.
Per Bergstrom, while Williams may not be ready for rotation minutes from Day 1, the 23-year-old could “become a reliable backup center down the line.” Given LA’s low draft position, Lakers fans would likely be more than satisfied with such an outcome.
