The Portland Trail Blazers could be active in the next three weeks with the Feb. 5 trade deadline fast approaching. One oft-discussed trade candidate is center Robert Williams III. And while Williams has been playing well for Portland this season, the brutal reality is they can't rely on such an injury-prone player for consistent production. As a result, the Time Lord's time in Portland could be coming to an end.
Williams was a trade candidate last season, but the Blazers ultimately decided they valued him more than the market for the talented but injury-prone big man. Rose Garden Report's Sean Highkin reported that the asking price of second-round picks was largely "wishcasting" by other front offices.
The Blazers have valued Williams two-way impact, which isn't surprising considering he's a perfect fit for the defensive identity general manager Joe Cronin has established. But at the same time, Williams has only exceeded 35 games played in two seasons of his entire career. He was expected to be a key asset in their initial return for Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics, but unfortunately, injuries have derailed that plan.
Robert Williams' injury history forces Blazers to sell high while they still can
For the Blazers, Williams played six games in 2023-24, 20 games in 2024-25, and 29 games this season. While it's encouraging that he's finally trending upward in terms of health, that's also precisely why it's essential that Portland sells relatively high while they still can. Williams got hurt shortly after they decided to keep him past last year's trade deadline, and they can't run the risk of history repeating itself.
There should also be a greater sense of urgency this time around. Portland has reportedly made Williams available for trade and is expected to be more willing to actually part ways with him this time around.
It makes sense considering they recently invested back-to-back first-round picks at the center position with the selections of Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen. But most significantly, Williams is on an expiring $13.3 million contract. That forces Portland's hand, as they essentially have three weeks to decide on his future.
Given his extensive injury history, this is too risky an investment for the Blazers to take on beyond this season. And with that being the case, they'd be better off trading him in the coming weeks rather than letting him walk for nothing.
If they want to buy at the deadline, Williams' mid-level expiring contract would be a perfect piece to include in a package. If they trade him straight up, it's unlikely they'd receive significant assets, as teams would be hesitant for the same reasons the Blazers are.
But at this point, something is better than nothing.