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Lakers Sign Ziaire Williams to One-Year, $3 M Deal.

7/14/2026

Summary

Lakers Sign Williams

The Los Angeles Lakers signed small forward Ziaire Williams to a one-year, $3 million contract on July 13, 2026, filling the final roster spot.
The deal brings the team to the 15-player limit.
Williams was the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, played three seasons with Memphis, and joined Brooklyn in 2024.
In 56 games for Brooklyn, he averaged 10.2 points and shot 42.5% FG, 34.3% 3P and 85% FT.

Summary

Lakers Add Placeholder

The Lakers signed Williams with $2,845,883 salary and a $2,449,421 cap hit, as a placeholder.
Cap space went to Kessler, Mamukelashvili, Grimes and the Sexton exception, leaving a veteran-minimum slot.
All three two-way slots are filled.
Reaves’ $180 million four-year contract and Looney’s one-year deal were priced to keep the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
A Kuminga sign-and-trade with Atlanta is needed, which Atlanta refuses because it rejects Vanderbilt’s contract and a pick.

History

Historical Context

After the 204-day 1998-99 lockout, Commissioner David Stern and NBPA director Billy Hunter signed a hard salary-cap CBA in January 1999 that limited team payroll to $30 million for 1999-2000. The framework introduced rookie scales and cap-hit rules that persist under today’s $136 million cap, enabling the Los Angeles Lakers to sign forward Ziaire Williams in July 2026 to a $2.85 million contract.

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Lakers Sign Williams

The Los Angeles Lakers signed small forward Ziaire Williams to a one-year, $3 million contract on July 13, 2026, filling the final roster spot.
The deal brings the team to the 15-player limit.
Williams was the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, played three seasons with Memphis, and joined Brooklyn in 2024.
In 56 games for Brooklyn, he averaged 10.2 points and shot 42.5% FG, 34.3% 3P and 85% FT.

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