LAS VEGAS — The Lakers signed free-agent forward Ziaire Williams to a one-year, $3-million deal on Monday, people not authorized to speak on the matter publicly confirmed to The Times.
Williams, 24, was available after the Brooklyn Nets declined his team option of $6.25 million, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The 6-foot-9 Williams gives the Lakers an athletic wing player. He averaged a career-high 10.2 points last season in 56 games, 13 as a starter.
He shot 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range.
NBA scouts who requested anonymity to speak candidly on the matter said Williams is athletic but hasn’t figure out his game yet. He’s seen as an inconsistent three-point shooter.
Williams, who attended Sierra Canyon High with Bronny James and Stanford, gives the Lakers a maximum 15 roster players.
GRACEFULLY stepping on to the red-carpeted gangplank, I turn and wave to the crowd.
Well, I say crowd. It’s a coach party from Aberdeen, who, like me, have come to snoop around our late Queen’s favourite floating home.
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The Royal Yacht Britannia, docked in Edinburgh’s Port of Leith for the past 28 yearsCredit: Marc Millar/Royal Yacht BrittaniaThe royal ship attracts lots of visitorsCredit: Marc Millar/Royal Yacht Brittania
Built in 1953 in Clydebank, Glasgow, Britannia sailed more than a million nautical miles during her 44-year reign over the waves and accompanied the Royal Family on 968 state visits to 135 countries.
Her new £3million visitor centre leads with a photo-heavy exhibition about the ship’s history, including an interesting Day In The Life Of Queen Elizabeth II.
An excellent audio tour then guides me through the five decks on board.
On the bridge, I sit in the captain’s chair overlooking a rather grey Firth of Forth and imagine the sights seen from here over the years, such as the Sydney Opera House and Hong Kong skyline.
A modest royal cabinCredit: SuppliedThe regal state dining roomCredit: Supplied
But the Queen simply adored sailing around the Hebrides on her annual royal holiday, which she described as “the one place I can truly relax”.
Walking the scrubbed teak decks, I get a glimpse of royal life on board this floating palace.
There’s Her Majesty’s office, where she would work each day, and the Sun Room — a teak-panelled lounge with bar and rum tub said to have been the Queen’s favourite spot on the ship.
It overlooks the Veranda Deck, where Prince Philip would set up his easel to paint.
I can picture myself playing quoits with Princess Anne or enjoying a Dubonnet and a game of whist with Princess Margaret.
On board, it’s like time has stood still.
Not least because every clock is set at 3.01pm, when the Queen and Prince Philip disembarked for the final time on December 11, 1997.
Echoing the plush decor found in other royal homes, the State Drawing Room is the family room. In the corner is a Welmar baby grand piano — bolted to the floor to withstand the waves — which was played over the years by guests including playwright Noel Coward and Princess Diana.
The Vestibule Deck has the State Apartments — including the somewhat modest adjoining cabins of the Queen and Prince Philip, with single beds.
Only one suite has a double bed — installed on request by Prince Charles for his first honeymoon.
The Sun’s Tracey Davies sits on the bridge with a sea viewCredit: SuppliedThe Royal Yacht Britannia has been named the World’s Best Attraction at TripAdvisor’s The Travellers’ Choice Awards 2026Credit: Marc Millar/Royal Yacht Brittania
Like Princess Margaret, I’m also partial to a pre-lunch sharpener.
The Royal Deck Tearoom serves her favourite Dubonnet cocktail (£16), as well as Moet by the glass or bottle (£15/£78), and a great coronation chicken sandwich (£10).
But the State Dining Room — rarely open to us commoners — is where VIP guests, such as Sir Winston Churchill, would dine with the Royal Family.
Below deck, I wind through the galley, laundry and medical room — with operating theatre — to discover how the 220-strong crew ran the ship like clockwork.
In the gift shop, you can get everything from a stuffed corgi (£25) to a Launer handbag (£2,850), a favourite of Her Maj.
As the State Apartments are not yet on Airbnb, you can enjoy a similar experience nearby at The Fingal, a former lighthouse tender turned luxury floating hotel.
GO: LEITH
GETTING THERE: Advance tickets from London to Edinburgh Waverley Station from £41.40 each way.
LEONARDO DiCaprio is facing business woes as the trendy vegan shoe brand he backed continues to haemorrhage millions.
The star’s favoured label has been left relying on cash injections from wealthy investors to keep it afloat.
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Leo invested his own cash in the trendy trainer companyCredit: Shutterstock EditorialMany of the vegan trainers have been slashed to half priceCredit: Loci
British shoemaker LØCI, in which Leo is a key investor, makes 100% cruelty-free trainers using recycled bamboo, foam and rubber.
Each £160 pair reuses up to 20 plastic bottles recovered from the Mediterranean and the east coast of Africa.
Leo said he was proud to be associated with the eco friendly trainer companyCredit: AFPThe shoe company has accumulated huge lossesCredit: Loci
Newly released accounts for Wild Loci Ltd also show accumulated losses of £2,904,888, while the company owes £931,130 to creditors.
The figures, filed this week, reveal the business is being propped up by investment totalling £5,170,947.
That leaves it with equity of £2,280,760 despite the significant losses.
The company also risks being struck off by Companies House after filing its accounts late for two consecutive years.
Many of the trainers are now available at slashed prices.Credit: LociLeonardo Di Caprio was a huge win for fledgling shoe brand
It has also been late submitting its annual “confirmation statement”, a legal requirement.
The government website warns: “Not filing your confirmation statements, annual returns or accounts is a criminal offence – and directors or LLP designated members could be personally fined in the criminal courts.”
Currently, the brand is offering dozens of shoes at half price, including the “Origins” trainer, which features a “natural cork and recycled foam insole”.
All of Nicki Minaj’s range is also heavily discounted, including the “Barbie Dangerous” and “Itty Bitty Piggy” sneakers.
At the time of Leonardo DiCaprio’s investment, founder Emmanuel Eribo said: “He’s an absolute star and sees the world the same way we see it. It’s been an absolute blessing having him on the team. You can’t ignore it’s a British brand and he’s betting on it.
“He didn’t need to do this, there’s definitely something in there that is tugging on him.
“If I could say things about Leo, I’d probably use two words: genuine and kind. You can care about the world and still want good things.”
At the time, Leo said he was “proud” to be an investor, adding: “I am proud to be an investor in LØCI, a brand dedicated to minimising its environmental impact, and centred around creating cruelty-free, ethical footwear.”