The LA Lakers still haven’t found all the missing pieces to complete their puzzle. They’re on the lookout for players who can elevate them to the next level. One name that’s been on their radar for some time is Portland’s Robert Williams III. However, the road to securing him is far from easy, as their Western rivals seem to be throwing up some obstacles for them on the way, at least that’s what a recent video suggests.

After the Rockets’ 125-103 win over the Trail Blazers, a viral clip surfaced on social media featuring Houston head coach Ime Udoka having a private conversation with Williams. Wondering why this grabbed so much attention? Well, Udoka isn’t usually known for chatting with players or coaches on the court after games. But this one was different.

Udoka was also joined by his assistant coaches, Ben Sullivan and Garrett Jackson, who were covering their mouths while speaking, making it hard to figure out exactly what was being said. But why did Udoka make an exception for the 27-year-old? There may be some behind-the-scenes front-office decisions in play that could put Portland in a tough spot with the Rockets and Lakers.

Williams is in the second-to-last year of his 4-year, $48 million contract with the Trail Blazers, making the situation even more complicated. While the Blazers haven’t shown much interest in parting ways with the offensive center, Williams’ reactions in the video suggest that nothing can be ruled out before the February 6 trade deadline. However, it certainly looks like Udoka might be aiming to disrupt the Lakers by snatching their targets. While that may not be the case, his unresolved issues with LeBron James hint that it could be heading in that direction.

Sneak peek of Ime Udoka’s beef with Lakers’ superstar LeBron James

Conflicts on the hardwood come as a part and parcel of the game, but this one took many by surprise. During a game between the Lakers and Rockets last December, things got heated as sharp remarks were thrown from the courtside.

The exchange was revealed by the popular X page, LegendZ, known for their lip reading expertise. The video didn’t pose much of a challenge for the page though, as most of the part was relatively easy to decipher. In one play, LeBron called for a traveling violation, which didn’t go well with Udoka, who allegedly responded, “Stop crying like b-tches, man.” The comment clearly offended LeBron, sparking an argument. As tensions escalated, the referee stepped in, giving the Lakers star a technical foul and ejecting the Rockets coach from the game.

The game ended with the Lakers securing a 107-97 victory, but it was about more than just the scores. Udoka may still be holding onto the bitterness of that past experience. So now, he has jumped into yet another fight with the LA side. Whether either side comes out as the winner or if Williams’ fate will be decided with the Trail Blazers ultimately choosing not to trade the guard, will be revealed in the upcoming days.