Lou Williams recently signed a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $21 million over three years, according to ESPN.com. According to Williams, though, his intent was to stay with the Toronto Raptors but they never made an offer.
Williams is coming off a year in which he won the Sixth Man of the Year award for the Raptors. He averaged a career high 15.5 points per game while coming off the bench and has always been known as a guy that can provide instant offense.
By not even making Williams an offer, it is clear that Toronto is trying to go in a different direction. The team has brought in Cory Joseph as Williams' replacement, as well as defensive guys like DeMarre Carroll and Bismack Biyombo. Because of these moves Williams thinks that the Raptors are trying to take a more defensive approach and this is a reaction to them getting swept in the first round at the hands of the Washington Wizards, according to Basketball Insiders.
On the flip side, Williams will now join a Lakers team that all of a sudden has a solid rotation of guards. Jordan Clarkson came on strong last year, and the former second round pick ended up making the NBA All-Rookie first team. The Lakers also used their second overall pick on D'Angelo Russell who many considered to be the best player in the entire draft. Russell and Clarkson figure to start alongside each other while Williams will continue his role coming off the bench.
Although Williams didn't end up getting to stay exactly where he wanted, he still has a great chance to defend his title as the Sixth Man of the Year. Williams will turn 29 years old next season and should have play left in the tank even this will be his 11th season in the NBA.
