Lakers Sign Ziaire Williams: NBA News Explained Simply

What Happened?

The Los Angeles Lakers (a professional basketball team) have agreed to sign a player named Ziaire Williams.

• They will give him a contract for one year and pay him $3 million.
• This news came from sources who spoke to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday.
• The deal was reported by Ben Golliver on July 13, 2026, at 5:34 PM ET.

Important Point: A "contract" is like a work agreement: Ziaire will play for the Lakers for one year and get paid $3 million for his work.

Who Is Ziaire Williams?

Ziaire is a 24-year-old basketball player. He is very tall: 6 feet 9 inches (about 2.06 meters). He plays a position called "forward" (think of him as a tall player who helps both near the basket and a bit farther away).

Some simple facts about him:

• Last season, he played for the Brooklyn Nets (another team).
• He played in 56 games (a game is like a match).
• He scored about 10.2 points per game (points are how you win in basketball).
• He grabbed 2.4 rebounds per game (rebounds are when you catch the ball after a missed shot).
• He was a 2021 lottery pick — that means in 2021, when new players were chosen by teams (like a big school draft), he was picked very early because teams thought he was super talented.
• Before the Nets, he played for the Memphis Grizzlies for three seasons (2021–2024).

Important Point: A "lottery pick" is just a fancy way of saying a player was chosen among the first few selections in the annual NBA draft (an event where teams pick new players).

Why Does This Matter for the Lakers?

The Lakers are changing their team (we call this an "overhauled frontcourt" — frontcourt means the tall players near the basket). They lost two forwards in free agency:

• LeBron James (a famous star)
• Rui Hachimura (another forward)

"Free agency" is like a period when players whose old contracts ended can choose to join different teams.

Ziaire will join the Lakers and help the coach, JJ Redick, by being a substitute player (coming off the "bench") who adds:

• Length (his height helps block shots and reach)
• Versatility (he can do different jobs on the court)

So, he will be a helpful backup player.

The Lakers’ Busy Offseason

The Lakers have been very active in the offseason (the period when teams prepare for next year). Here are the moves they made:

• Re-signed Austin Reaves (kept him on the team)
• Added new players:
  • Walker Kessler
  • Sandro Mamukelashvili
  • Collin Sexton
  • Quentin Grimes
  • Kevon Looney
• Now, with Ziaire Williams, they have a full 15-man roster. That means the maximum number of players a team can have is filled up.

Quick list of all recent Lakers player moves:

• Austin Reaves (re-signed)
• Walker Kessler (added)
• Sandro Mamukelashvili (added)
• Collin Sexton (added)
• Quentin Grimes (added)
• Kevon Looney (added)
• Ziaire Williams (added)

What’s Next for the Lakers?

Even though they have 15 players, they still really want another forward named Jonathan Kuminga.

They are trying hard to get him. To make room, they could do these things (numbered steps show possible ways):

1. Sign-and-trade with the Hawks – This means they sign a player and then trade him with the Atlanta Hawks to get Kuminga.
2. Waive a player – This means they let one of their current players go (like dropping them from the team) to free up a spot.
3. Other avenues – There might be other creative ways to clear space.

Important Point: "Waiving" a player is like telling them they are no longer on the team, so the team can add someone else.

Fun Connections

Ziaire Williams has a cool link to the Lakers already:

• He went to the same high school (Sierra Canyon in California) as Bronny James, who is LeBron James’s son and currently a Lakers guard (a smaller position player).
• They were teammates in high school!

About the Article and Author

This news was written by Ben Golliver, a senior NBA writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in May 2026. Before that, he wrote about the NBA for The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, and CBS Sports since 2010. He wrote a book called Bubbleball about his 93-day stay at the NBA’s "Bubble" (a safe zone during the coronavirus pandemic) in Disney World. He lives in Los Angeles.

• Published: July 13, 2026, 5:34 PM ET
• Source: ESPN

Summary

To wrap up simply:

• The Lakers signed Ziaire Williams (24, tall forward) for 1 year, $3 million.
• He joins after they lost LeBron James and Rui Hachimura in free agency.
• He adds height and flexibility off the bench.
• The Lakers now have a full team of 15 players after a busy offseason of adding many new faces.
• They still want Jonathan Kuminga and might clear space by trade or waiving someone.
• Ziaire was high school teammates with Bronny James.
• The news was reported by Ben Golliver on ESPN.

FAQ

Q1: What is a "forward" in basketball?
A: A forward is a tall player who usually plays near the basket but can also shoot from farther away. They help score and defend.

Q2: What does "free agency" mean?
A: It’s a time when players whose contracts with their old team have ended can sign with any team they choose, like being free to pick a new job.

Q3: Why is having a "full 15-man roster" important?
A: The NBA rules say a team can have at most 15 players on its main squad. Having a full roster means the team has all the players it can carry, but they might still change if they trade or waive someone.

Q4: Who is Bronny James?
A: He is the son of famous player LeBron James, and he is a guard (smaller position) for the Lakers. He went to high school with Ziaire Williams.

Q5: What is a "sign-and-trade"?
A: It’s a deal where a team first signs a player to a contract and then immediately trades that player to another team. This helps teams get players they couldn’t sign directly.