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Blazers have painfully obvious Robert Williams trade partner

Robert Williams III is the most likely Portland Trail Blazers player to be moved by the Feb. 5 trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Lakers make perfect sense as a potential landing spot.

The Lakers already added a former Blazers center in Deandre Ayton this past offseason, but still desperately need help in the frontcourt. Williams can provide them with much-needed depth while also addressing their glaring defensive limitations.

Despite their 20-10 record, the Lakers shouldn't be considered genuine contenders unless they upgrade their roster by the deadline. They currently rank 25th in defensive rating (117.4). With their offensive-minded star trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James (who has finally lost a step defensively), Williams would be the ideal complementary piece.