Here it comes! The Lakers are interested in a 28-year-old center! Yang Hansen is expected to finally step up.

The Lakers were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals this postseason, with both interior players proving ineffective. Their performances are as follows:

Starting center and 2018 No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton averaged 10 points and 9.6 rebounds over 28.5 minutes per game, shooting 54.8% from the field;

Backup center and 2019 first-round No. 8 pick Jaxson Hayes averaged 5.7 points and 3.2 rebounds over 16.3 minutes per game, shooting 67.9% from the field.

NBA reporter Bobby Marks reported on this: Currently, league rumors suggest that the Lakers will aggressively pursue fully unrestricted free agent Robert Williams this offseason.

This season in the regular season for the Trail Blazers, he appeared in 59 games (1 start), averaging 17.1 minutes per game while contributing 6.7 points, 7 rebounds (2.4 offensive), 1 assist, and 1.5 blocks, shooting 70.8% from the field; in the postseason, he averaged 21.6 minutes per game, putting up 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds (3.2 offensive), 2.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks, shooting 62.9% from the field.

Robert Williams, born on October 17, 1997, is currently 28 years old. He is a big center standing 6'9" (2.06m) with a 7'6" (2.27m) wingspan, selected as the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 draft. As early as the 2021-22 season, he helped the Celtics reach the NBA Finals and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team that season. He is an excellent interior player capable of performing in high-stakes games, but his durability and glass-like physique remain a concern.

In short, the Lakers are far from the only team interested in Williams this summer. It is reported that multiple playoff and even championship-contending teams have joined the bidding war. Of course, he might also stay with the Trail Blazers, with an expected new contract worth $12 million to $13 million annually.

From a Chinese fan's perspective, it is certainly hoped that Williams will take his talents to another team next season. As mentioned, he served as the Trail Blazers' primary backup center this season, sharing almost all of the team's center minutes with starting center Clingan, which left Yang Hansen, our 2025 first-round No. 16 pick, with very few opportunities to play.

In his rookie season, Yang Hansen appeared in 43 regular-season games (1 start), averaging just 7 minutes per game with 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds. His playoff stats are negligible. However, in the NBA G League, he performed impressively, averaging a well-rounded 17.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 62.4% from the field.

Yang Hansen is currently training in Los Angeles, arranged by his agency Klutch Sports Group. It is essentially confirmed that he will return to play for the Chinese men's national basketball team in the third window of the World Cup Qualifiers this July.