Portland Trail Blazers big man Robert Williams III has signed a three-year, $44 million extension to stay in Rip City, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
Even considering Williams' extensive injury history, this is a good decision by the Blazers' front office. Williams is coming off one of the healthiest seasons of his career, averaging 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in 59 games played. That was the second-most games played throughout his eight-year career -- a total that could've been even higher had Portland not strategically sat him out in back-to-backs.
The Blazers finally found a working formula for effectively managing Williams' injury-proneness, which is even more reason to keep him around in Portland. They retained one of the best backup bigs in the association, which was crucial given how important he's become to this frontcourt.
Blazers couldn't afford to lose Robert Williams III
Williams gives the Blazers another dimension they lack elsewhere. His defensive versatility gives them an option to spell Donovan Clingan in place of someone far better equipped to defend the three-point line. And by keeping Williams through the 2028-29 season, the Blazers will have more time to patiently bring along multi-year project Yang Hansen.
Despite Williams' compelling case to stay after a relatively healthy season, it wasn't quite clear whether he was going to be suiting up for Portland next year. Monday, Jason Quick of The Athletic reported that Portland was "not expected to retain" Williams, adding that the big man was seeking a contract in the $15 million a year range.
Had that remained the case, Portland would've had a massive frontcourt void to fill this summer, especially after adding yet another point guard into the mix with their surprising trade for Ja Morant. Portland should still look to add a four or five to fill out this roster, but it's far more manageable with Williams officially back.
Hopefully, his productive season is a sign of things to come, and he's able to put these injuries behind him for good. Portland was able to retain him at an average of $14.7 million per year, slightly less than what he was reportedly seeking.
There's certainly some risk attached here, but if he's able to build off a promising 2025-26 campaign, that contract could become a steal for Portland. The reward justifies the risk with this decision.
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