Derrick Williams, Lakers Agree to 10-Day Contract

The Los Angeles Lakers are adding the No. 2 overall pick from the 2011 NBA draft to their frontcourt heading into the stretch run of the 2017-18 campaign as the team announced the signing of Derrick Williams.

Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports first reported that Los Angeles plans on Williams to a 10-day contract. Charania noted Williams has played in China this season, though the Arizona product has laced it up for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat in his NBA career.

Williams impressed in the early portion of his career with the Timberwolves and was named to the 2011-12 All-Rookie second team when he averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He built on that the following season with 12.0 points and 5.5 boards a night, but both of those totals marked career highs.

He was never able to replicate the initial success from his Minnesota days when playing for the Kings, Knicks, Cavaliers or Heat and shot just 43.4 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from three-point range in six seasons.

His last appearance in an NBA game was the 2017 NBA Finals, when he played 10 total minutes and scored seven points in Cleveland's five-game loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Despite a lackluster resume for Williams, the Lakers can use the depth on the wing considering Brandon Ingram is dealing with a groin injury and Josh Hart is out with a broken hand.

The Lakers are 6-1 in their last seven games and just 5.5 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers in the race for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. While they are running out of time with just 18 contests remaining, it is a testament to the young core's development that the Lakers are still within shouting distance at this point of the rebuild.

Williams will look to provide a scoring and rebounding spark as the Lakers strive to continue playing at an elevated level down the stretch.