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Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from his nomination to become President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general on Thursday. The announcement has raised questions: What does Gaetz' career look like moving forward, what happens now? Gaetz announced his withdrawal from the role in an X post on Thursday morning, "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General." Trump nominated Gaetz to become his attorney general on Nov. 13, one week after winning his re-election campaign, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump took to his social media platform , Truth Social, to respond, sharing his respect for Gaetz' decision: "Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!" Dig deeper: Matt Gaetz withdraws his name as Trump's nominee for attorney general Did Gaetz resign from Congress? Yes, Gaetz issued his resignation from Congress the same day Trump nominated him to serve as his attorney general. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced the news of Gaetz's resignation during a news conference on Nov. 13, adding that the move was effective immediately. Could Gaetz get his seat in Congress back? Yes, in theory, Gaetz could get his seat back in Congress, though his political future was uncertain as of Thursday. On Nov. 5, Gaetz won re-election to the new, 119th Congress , which begins on Jan. 3, 2025. He resigned during the 118th Congress, which began in January 2023 and will cease in January 2025. Gaetz reportedly wrote in his House resignation letter that he did "not intend to" take the oath of office in the new Congress. By federal law, Gaetz could get his seat back in Congress if he were re-elected during a special election. According to the Congressional Research Service, a special election to fill a House vacancy must be issued by the corresponding state's governor. In this case, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis must issue the special election. The scheduling procedures for these special elections differ from state to state, but Florida law does not provide a mandatory timeline. The day after Gaetz issued his resignation from Congress, DeSantis announced on X that he had instructed Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd to formulate and announce a schedule for an upcoming special election. A date had yet to be announced for this election, as of Thursday afternoon. Gaetz's wife, Ginger, posted a picture of the couple on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, saying, "The end of an era." Why did Gaetz withdraw his AG nomination? Gaetz did not cite a specific reason for his withdrawal, but over the past week, controversy of his bid swelled due to allegations of sex trafficking minors. The Justice Department, which Gaetz would have led if he were attorney general, investigated allegations that Gaetz committed statutory rape by paying for sex with a 17-year-old and for her to travel with him across state lines. The investigation was dropped without charges. But recently, the House Ethics Committee, a bipartisan panel made up of Democrats and Republicans, began investigating the allegations. The committee had planned to vote on whether to release a report of its findings two days after Gaetz resigned from his seat on Congress last week. Who will Trump nominate for AG next? It is unclear who Trump will nominate for attorney general in Gaetz' place. The president-elect has not made an announcement. Riley Beggin and C.A. Bridges contributed to this reporting. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com .
Defying ordinary decency, international law, and world opinion, Netanyahu destroyed much of civilian Gaza, decapitated the leadership of Hamas, and followed up with a parallel military campaign against Hezbollah, with civilian casualties in central Beirut. Critics warned that this was not only barbaric, but that it would spread Israel’s military far too thin. But for now, Netanyahu’s strategy has worked. A much-weakened Hezbollah has agreed to a 60-day cease-fire, largely dictated by Israel. The always fragile government of Lebanon, which views Hezbollah as an interloper that draws Israeli fire, has gratefully gone along. None of this is any thanks to Joe Biden, who supplied weapons, bleated about the need for Israeli restraint, and was totally rolled by Netanyahu. At home, Netanyahu is more popular than ever. The Israeli pro-peace left is all but wiped out. Israeli democracy is a shambles. Illegal annexations and brutalities in the occupied West Bank continue. And one way or other, given his popularity and willingness to defy the rules, Netanyahu is very likely beat the criminal charges against him. Remind you of anybody? This is an era when autocrats can isolate opponents, undermine democracy, be as brutal as the need to, and get away with it. Putin, Trump, and Netanyahu are variations on the theme. But what comes next for Israel? Unlike Russia and the United States, Israel is a tiny country surrounded by a sea of hostile nations. Netanyahu’s bet is that the deep hostility of the Sunni Muslim states, notably Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, toward Shiite Iran and its proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah will allow for some kind of regional settlement. The devil, of course, is in the details. The irony is that it now falls to Trump to bring the deal home and restrain some of Israel’s more outlandish fantasies, such as making full-scale war on Iran or taking over Gaza. , “They [the Palestinians] never took advantage of it. You know, as a developer, it could be the most beautiful place — the weather, the water, the whole thing, the climate. It could be so beautiful... it could be one of the best places in the world.” Some restraint. Under Trump’s first term, one of the few concrete achievements were the so-called Abraham Accords of 2020, the first step toward normalization of relations between Israel and some of the smaller Muslim nations in the region, such as the Emirates and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia, the key to a larger regional deal, was not included. Now, Saudi terms for a settlement with Israel will be even more far-reaching. The Saudi leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), is said to want nuclear technology and other advanced weapons as part of the deal. The idea of the Saudis as a counterweight to Iran is complicated by the fact that last year Saudi Arabia normalized relations with Iran. as saying, that they “have to live with Trump for only four years but with Iran for one thousand years.” There is also the question of who will rebuild Gaza, who will pay the cost, and The Saudis could write the check, but it’s a non-starter for Israel to do the rebuilding, and the idea of a “reconstituted Palestinian Authority” strikes many knowledgeable people as a fantasy. In principle, some interim multinational governing authority under the aegis of the UN might work, but Trump is totally hostile to the UN and friendly to the idea of Israeli developing Gaza as beachfront property. In Trump’s first term, as , his foreign policy advisers restrained his more grandiose fantasies. This time, Beinart writes, “He has begun assembling even more extreme supporters of a ‘greater Israel’ that would extend from the river to the sea: Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, UN Ambassador Elise Stefanik, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.” In short, Bibi may win this round militarily and save his own skin, but Israel is further away from real security than ever. And Trump, far from promoting a durable peace, is likely to further inflame the region.
Software is in, chips are out as traders position for Trump era
German President to visit Nigeria, engage with business reps, startup hubs, othersIan Schieffelin came within two assists of a triple-double and Clemson handed Penn State its first loss with a 75-67 decision for the championship of the Sunshine Slam tournament Tuesday in Daytona Beach, Fla. Schieffelin finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for the Tigers (6-1), leading four players in double figures. Chase Hunter added 17 points, while Chauncey Wiggins scored 14 and reserve Del Jones chipped in 10 points. Clemson sank 9 of 19 3-pointers, converted 16 of 20 free throws and was able to limit the impact of the Nittany Lions' full-court pressure. The Tigers committed just 13 turnovers, helping them hold Penn State (6-1) to less than 85 points for the first time this year. Ace Baldwin starred in defeat with game highs of 20 points and 11 assists, while center Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 14 points. Nick Kern came off the bench to score 11 but Penn State was outscored 15-2 on the fast break and made just 4 of 18 attempts from 3-point range. Schieffelin came up big down the stretch, assisting on a 3-pointer by Jaeden Zackery with 6:04 left that made it 65-61. Then he made two foul shots and tossed in a jump hook from the lane to up the margin to 71-66 with 1:03 left. The big storyline going into this game was which team would be able to control the pace. Penn State came in averaging 96 ppg, while Clemson demonstrated its ability to enforce a slower tempo in March, advancing to a regional final in the NCAA Tournament. In the first 10 minutes of the game, the Tigers made the Nittany Lions play at a crawl, opening up a 17-10 advantage when Schieffelin converted a short hook in the lane. But Penn State answered with an 18-4 run over nearly six minutes, establishing a 28-21 lead when Kern shook free for a layup. Clemson rallied with nine straight points but the Nittany Lions had the last say as Baldwin converted a layup with 24 seconds left, cutting the Tigers' edge to 38-36 at halftime. --Field Level Media
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When I woke up the day after the U.S. election to learn that Donald Trump would, once again, become president of the United States, the temptation to panic and sell my investments kicked in as it did in 2016. Then, I’d just quit my job, joining the ranks of people who are Financially Independent and Retired Early (FIRE), and started living off the capital gains, dividends and interest of my portfolio. I don’t have nerves of steel. I get nervous during turbulence on planes. I’m terrified of heights. And as someone who grew up in China on 44 cents a day, my parents told me that only savings accounts and houses are safe. Investing feels as foreign to me as the hot showers, drinkable tap water and central heating felt when I first came to Canada. But knowing that my portfolio not only survived the calamities of the past eight years, but thrived and doubled, gives me confidence to stay the course. If you find investing in the stock market terrifying, especially given this election result, you can use the three Ds of investing to stay calm and focused. Diversification Having a diversified portfolio means that you don’t invest in individual stocks. Instead, you buy exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track specific indexes. For example, one of the ETFs I own in my portfolio is VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index) which tracks the entire U.S equity market and holds over 3,700 stocks, including small-, mid- and large-cap companies. Another way I diversify my portfolio is by adding an international ETF that gives me exposure to European, Asian and Australian stock markets. Global diversification, in addition to stock diversification, ensures that one country’s politics and economics can’t ruin my retirement. Dividends If you had an orange orchard, the trees would be the stocks, and the oranges would be the dividends in your portfolio. When you sell stocks, you either harvest capital gains or sustain capital losses. But selling is like digging up some of your orange trees. Dividends , however, get paid out regardless of the capital value of your stocks and you don’t need to sell anything. This is like harvesting and eating the oranges. You’re not hurting the tree, and it will continue to grow. Since I retired, I realized that you could build an additional level of retirement safety by keeping your basic living expenses (rent, food, utilities, etc.) within the dividend and interest income of your portfolio. Other “nice to have” things like travel can be paid for by selling stocks if you’ve just had a good year, but if you’ve just had a down year, you don’t have to. Living off your dividends helps you stay invested during market crashes because you’re getting paid regardless of the capital value of your stocks. Dollar-cost averaging Dollar-cost averaging is the concept of buying stocks at regular intervals, regardless of price. So instead of dumping in all your money and picking up stocks at a single price point, you are “averaging” out the cost over time. This strategy helps beginner investors get comfortable with the idea of investing because instead of jumping into the deep end and investing their life savings all at once, they are wading into these waters slowly. It also helps with market crashes. Rather than selling everything and going to cash, you keep investing as the market falls, which allows you to buy ETFs at better prices. It’s how we got through the financial crisis of 2008, and it’s how we’re going to get through future stock market crashes. According to a 10-year study done by Fidelity , the best-performing group of clients were those who’d forgotten they had accounts. The reason for this is that most investors are nervous and try to time the markets based on what they hear in the news. Despite multiple stock market dips since we’ve stopped working, our FIRE approach has not wavered. That’s because seasoned FIRE investors know that no matter what happens in the world, over the long term the stock market will keep rising, so if you’ve built a globally diversified, dividend-yielding portfolio, and use dollar-cost averaging to keep putting your savings into it, you’ll be richer over the long run. Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung retired in their 30s and are authors of the bestselling book Quit Like a Millionaire .None
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SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election , according to a Federal Police report unsealed Tuesday. Federal Police last Thursday formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup. They sent their 884-page report to the Supreme Court, which lifted the seal. The unsealed document provides a first glimpse of several testimonies that describe the former president as one of the key leaders of the plot, and not a mere observer. “The evidence collected throughout the investigation shows unequivocally that then-President Jair Messias Bolsonaro planned, acted and was directly and effectively aware of the actions of the criminal organization aiming to launch a coup d’etat and eliminate the democratic rule of law, which did not take place due to reasons unrelated to his desire,” the document said. At another point, it says: “Bolsonaro had full awareness and active participation.” Bolsonaro, who had repeatedly alleged without evidence that the country's electronic voting system was prone to fraud, called a meeting in December 2022, during which he presented a draft decree to the commanders of the three divisions of the armed forces, according to the police report, signed by four investigators. The decree would have launched an investigation into suspicions of fraud and crimes related to the October 2022 vote, and suspended the powers of the nation's electoral court. The navy’s commander stood ready to comply, but those from the army and air force objected to any plan that prevented Lula’s inauguration, the report said. Those refusals are why the plan did not go ahead, according to witnesses who spoke to investigators. Bolsonaro never signed the decree to set the final stage of the alleged plan into action. Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or awareness of any plot to keep him in power or oust his leftist rival and successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “No one is going to do a coup with a reserve general and half a dozen other officers. What is being said is absurd. For my part, there has never been any discussion of a coup,” Bolsonaro told journalists in Brazil’s capital Brasilia on Monday. “If someone came to discuss a coup with me, I’d say, that’s fine, but the day after, how does the world view us?” he added. “The word ‘coup’ has never been in my dictionary.” The top court has passed the report on to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. The former president was formally accused of three crimes: violent elimination of the rule of law, staging a coup d'etat and forming a criminal organization. Rodrigo Rios, a law professor at the PUC university in the city of Curitiba, said Bolsonaro could face up to a minimum of 11 years in prison if convicted on all charges. “A woman involved in the Jan. 8 attack on the Supreme Court received a 17-year prison sentence,” Rios told The Associated Press, noting that the former president is more likely to receive 15 years or more if convicted. “Bolsonaro’s future looks dark.” Ahead of the 2022 election, Bolsonaro repeatedly alleged that the election system, which does not use paper ballots, could be tampered with. The top electoral court later ruled that he had abused his power to cast unfounded doubt on the voting system, and ruled him ineligible for office until 2030 . Still, he has maintained that he will stand as a candidate in the 2026 race. Since Bolsonaro left office, he has been targeted by several investigations, all of which he has chalked up to political persecution. Federal Police have accused him of smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them and directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses . Authorities are also investigating whether he incited the Jan. 8, 2022 riot in which his followers ransacked the Supreme Court and presidential palace in Brasilia, seeking to prompt intervention by the army that would oust Lula from power. Bolsonaro had left for the United States days before Lula’s inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023 and stayed there three months, keeping a low profile. The police report unsealed Tuesday alleges he was seeking to avoid possible imprisonment related to the coup plot, and also await the uprising that took place a week later. ___ Hughes reported from Rio de Janeiro Mauricio Savarese And Eléonore Hughes, The Associated PressSyrian insurgents reach the suburbs of Damascus. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies.Pep Guardiola’s side avoided the indignity of a sixth successive defeat in all competitions and looked on course for a welcome victory thanks to a double from Erling Haaland – the first from the penalty spot – and a deflected effort from Ilkay Gundogan. Yet Guardiola was left with his head in hands as Feyenoord roared back in the last 15 minutes with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Sergio Gimenez and David Hancko, two of them after Josko Gvardiol errors. FULL-TIME | A point apiece. 🩵 3-3 ⚫️ #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/6oj1nEOIwm — Manchester City (@ManCity) November 26, 2024 Arsenal delivered the statement Champions League win Mikel Arteta had demanded as they swept aside Sporting Lisbon 5-1. Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials, and goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. Putting on a show at Sporting 🌟 pic.twitter.com/Yi9MgRZEkl — Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 26, 2024 Paris St Germain were left in serious of danger of failing to progress in the Champions League as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Kim Min-jae’s header late in the first half was enough to send PSG to a third defeat in the competition this season, leaving them six points off the automatic qualification places for the last 16 with three games to play. Luis Enrique’s side, who had Ousmane Dembele sent off, were deservedly beaten by Bayern who dominated chances and possession. 🔔 FULL TIME – Victory at home! +3 in the #UCL 👏❤️ #FCBayern #MiaSanMia | #FCBPSG #UCL pic.twitter.com/BYE23dXXih — FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) November 26, 2024 Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid were 6-0 winners away to Sparta Prague, Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa each scoring twice whilst there were also goals from Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann. Barcelona ended tournament debutants Brest’s unbeaten start with a 3-0 victory courtesy of two goals from Robert Lewandowski – one a penalty – and Dani Olmo. Lewandowski’s first was his 100th Champions League goal, only the third man to reach the mark after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. A Castello Lukeba own goal saw Inter Milan go top of the standings with a narrow 1-0 win over RB Leipzig at San Siro, whilst Bayer Leverkusen were emphatic victors against Red Bull Salzburg, Florian Wirtz scoring twice to move Xabi Alonso’s side into the automatic qualification places. Atalanta continued their strong start, albeit whilst conceding a first goal in Europe this season in a 6-1 win away to Young Boys, whilst Tammy Abraham scored the decisive goal as AC Milan beat Slovan Bratislava 3-2.
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A downtown Davenport staple will soon close. Ruby's Beers Bikes and Brats at 429 E. Third Street in Davenport will close Friday, Nov. 29. The official announcement was made on Facebook , after owners took to social media to thank bartenders, employees and staff. "Every laugh, every drink, and every memory made here has been special," the post read. "We invite you all to come say goodbye and make the most of these last few days. Let’s share laughs, create new memories, and celebrate the incredible times we’ve had together." Known for its 32 beer taps and outdoor volleyball and pickleball courts, Ruby's also doubled as a full-service bike shop. The post did not give a reason for the closure. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee voted Wednesday against releasing a report on their long-running investigation into President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz. A young boy admires holiday decorations inside the Buttercupp Candles vendor stall during the Arts Alley grand opening on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Rock Island. Each weekend until Christmas, a different, local vendor will set up shop in one of the two new booths located in the alley. They will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An attendee at the downtown Rock Island tree lighting ceremony poses with the OneSound Piano at the Arts Alley grand opening on Wednesday, November 20, in Rock Island. This piano will join 13 other pianos across the Quad-Cities. People gather in the new and improved Arts Alley on Wednesday, November 20, in Rock Island. The grand opening showed off $500,000 worth of improvements. A new 20-foot tree is lit up in Arts Alley on Wednesday, November 20, in Rock Island. Siblings pose for a photo in front of the big Christmas tree in Arts Alley on Wednesday, November 20, in Rock Island. The two new vendor stalls in Arts Alley in Rock Island will be open every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A new OneSound Piano will join 13 other pianos throughout the Quad-Cities and will be located at the Quad City Arts gallery in Rock Island. The project is sponsored by Common Chord. The Rock Island High School Chamber Choir performed at the Arts Alley grand opening on Wednesday, November 20, in Rock Island. A young boy admires holiday decorations inside the Buttercupp Candles vendor stall during the Arts Alley grand opening on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Rock Island. Each weekend until Christmas, a different, local vendor will set up shop in one of the two new booths located in the alley. They will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.SAN DIEGO , Dec. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. announced that a lawsuit was filed for certain investors in DMC Global Inc. ( NASDAQ : BOOM) shares Investors who purchased more than $100,000 in shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) between May and November 2024 have certain options and there are short and strict deadlines running. Deadline: February 04, 2025 . Those DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM investors should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554. On October 21, 2024 , DMC Global Inc. disclosed that it was "revising its guidance" for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 , stating that the Company's adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be approximately $5 million , down from prior guidance for $15 -18 million, and that the third quarter financial results "will include inventory and bad debt charges at DynaEnergetics totaling approximately $5 million , as well as lower fixed overhead absorption on reduced sales at both Arcadia and DynaEnergetics." The Company also revealed that the financial results will include an approximate $142 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge "associated with DMC's December 2021 acquisition of a controlling interest in Arcadia ." On November 4, 2024 , DMC Global Inc released its third-quarter financial results for the period ending September 30, 2024 . Among other results, the Company reported third quarter sales of $152.4 million , down 11% sequentially and year-over-year, as well as the previously disclosed non-cash goodwill impairment charge. Shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) declined from $15.98 per share on May 3, 2024 , to as low as $7.16 per share on November 21 , 2024. On December 06, 2024 , an investor in NASDAQ: BOOM shares filed a lawsuit against DMC Global Inc. The plaintiff alleges that between May 3, 2024 and November 4, 2024 , the defendants made materially false and misleading statements and failed to disclose the following adverse facts about DMC Global's business, operations, and prospects which were known to defendants or recklessly disregarded by them: (i) the goodwill associated with the company's principal business segment, Acadia Products, was overstated due to the adverse events and circumstances affecting that reporting segment; (ii) DMC Global's materially inadequate internal systems and processes were adversely affecting its operations; (iii) the company's inadequate systems and processes prevented it from ensuring reasonably accurate guidance and that its public disclosures were timely, accurate, and complete; (iv) as a result, defendants misrepresented DMC Global's operations and financial results; and/or (v) as a result, the company's public statements were materially false, misleading, or lacked a reasonable basis when made. Those who purchased shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc. CONTACT: Shareholders Foundation, Inc. Michael Daniels +1 (858) 779-1554 mail@shareholdersfoundation.com 3111 Camino Del Rio North Suite 423 San Diego, CA 92108 The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio legal monitoring and a settlement claim filing service, which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Any referenced cases, investigations, and/or settlements are not filed/initiated/reached and/or are not related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is only provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lawsuit-for-investors-who-lost-over-100-000-in-shares-of-dmc-global-inc-nasdaq-boom-between-may-and-nov-2024-announced-by-shareholders-foundation-302325435.html SOURCE Shareholders Foundation, Inc.With the 2024-25 season in full swing, teams around the league are considering their options for a trade before February's deadline. The latest intel out of Los Angeles suggests the Lakers will be active on the trade front this year and that they are one of three teams interested in pursuing young big man Robert Williams III. “The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings have held interest in the Portland Trail Blazers' big man dating back to the offseason," wrote NBA insider Brett Siegel . Robert Williams, 27, was the 27th overall pick in 2018. Began his career with the Boston Celtics , where he showed flashes of star potential and elite defensive play. He made the 2021-22 All-Defensive team with averages of 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on 73.6% shooting. After helping the Celtics reach the Finals in 2022, Robert Williams was sent to the Trail Blazers in a trade for Jrue Holiday, and the rest is history. Currently, Williams is having one of the best years of his career so far after an injury-riddled start with the Blazers. He's averaging a career-high 10.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 73.6% shooting. He's not currently available in trade talks, but the Blazers might be compelled to give him up if the offer is good enough. As a young, athletic, and strong center, Robert Williams would bring much-needed depth to the Lakers' frontcourt. It's no secret that GM Rob Pelinka has been on the hunt for some reinforcements down low , as there's only one big man who can back up Anthony Davis right now. With another option at center, Davis could play his preferred position (power forward) and carry a lighter burden on both ends of the floor. As one of the league's worst rebounding teams, adding a young and athletic rim runner could help them with cleaning the glass and preventing second-chance opportunities. With months to go before the NBA's trade deadline, the Lakers still have plenty of time to consider their best course of action. At 10-5 this season, and 4th in the standings, the Lakers are seemingly within range of the West's top teams. With Robert Williams III in their jersey, the Lakers would become a much bigger threat with added front-court depth and an insurance policy for any potential Anthony Davis injury. As it stands now, the Lakers would be screwed if Davis goes down but between LeBron James and a big man like Robert Williams, they'd have a chance to stay afloat until his return. For now, only time will tell if the Lakers can pull off an impactful trade but there is no question that they are on the hunt right now given the frequency of these rumors. The Lakers believe they are close to a title and that one more move could make the difference between success and failure. Robert Williams gives the Lakers everything they need and if Rob Pelina is willing to pay the price it could have major implications on the Western Conference hierarchy. Related: NBA Panic Meter For Every Team: 76ers In Serious Trouble, Warning Signs For Lakers Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News . We appreciate your support.
