A fully healthy, fully productive version of Robert Williams III would be exactly what this Trail Blazers team needs. In theory, the rim-running, athletically gifted center complements the game of starting center Donovan Clingan perfectly.
But early on, it looks like season after season dealing with serious injuries has finally worn on Williams, who has not been supremely productive in the minutes he has gotten this year, and who is still being eased into the Blazers rotation while managing his knee. In the meantime, rookie Yang Hansen is finally getting some real court time, and if that trend continues (and the Blazers keep losing), Williams could be out of the rotation before the new year.
Fans are already clamoring for Hansen every night. If the Blazers fall down the Western Conference standings, Thiago Splitter may run out of reasons not to ride with a Clingan / Hansen frontcourt, leaving Williams as the odd man out.
Robert Williams III might be losing grip on rotation spot
Williams III looks pretty rusty thus far, and you can't blame him. He's been hurt for basically three years straight. This is technically his third season with the Blazers, but he's played just 35 games over that span.
Williams still (somewhat miraculously) has impressive athleticism despite brutal injury luck for about five straight years, but the stakes of this season feel like they're being lowered with every heartbreaking loss and injury update. At some point, Williams could well be out of the lineup just because he's not serving much purpose for this particular team.
As it stands, the Blazers' frontcourt is wide open. Williams, Yang Hansen, and Duop Reath are all competing for consistent minutes. Williams has gotten minutes in large part because the Blazers are still trying to figure out which combination works best, but if the Blazers approach "tank" territory, it makes more sense to play Hansen and let him acclimate on the fly.
I don't want to dismiss Williams as a role player — but Hansen is likely going to squeeze his way into the lineup whenever Williams is sidelined, and if the Blazers keep losing games, there just becomes less of a reason to turn to a veteran over a rookie. The Blazers can't rely on Williams nightly, and a promising rookie is breathing down his neck. It's a combo that could push Time Lord out of the rotation pretty soon.