Lakers announce Derrick Williams signing 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Lakers are bolstering their roster down the final stretch of the season, signing former No. 2 pick Derrick Williams to a 10-day contract, the team announced Friday afternoon. The Lakers have just 18 games left in the regular season, and with the signing going official before tipoff against the Denver Nuggets, there’s a chance he’ll be on the floor immediately.

Williams has been out of the NBA this season entirely, playing 15 games in China for the Tianjin Gold Lions. He was averaging 20 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game overseas, well above the kind of peaks he reached in the states.

He last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, lacing up for 25 outings last season. Williams averaged 6.2 points while shooting 40.4 percent from outside during that stretch. The Lakers need help in the wings with both Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart out with injuries, and Williams will be looked at to be a veteran plugging a leaky hole in the canoe for a few games.

It probably didn’t hurt that Williams was previously represented by Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka either. Pelinka should have a fairly good read on what kind of presence he’ll bring to the young core.