Robert Williams III was the most frequently discussed trade candidate for the Portland Trail Blazers, who decided to hold onto the talented but injury-prone big man past the deadline. That's already looking like the right decision as Williams continues to play a key role for Portland.
The Blazers' frontcourt is quietly shallow following the Duop Reath trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Donovan Clingan has emerged as a legitimate building block and Portland's starting center of the future with his improved play this season. But the Blazers still don't have many reliable options to spell the UConn product.
Reath is out of the picture while rookie Yang Hansen remains essentially unplayable, falling out of Tiago Splitter's for the entirety of the season. That leaves Williams as the last man standing, making it even more important that Portland keeps him past the deadline.
Blazers were right to keep Robert Williams III past the trade deadline
It would've been understandable if general manager Joe Cronin ultimately decided to move on from Williams. In fact, things were trending in that direction as the Blazers were rumored to be more willing to trade him compared to last season's deadline, where they were one of the only teams to stand pat.
Time Lord has proven to be healthy and impactful this season; that boosted his trade value at the ideal time, considering the Blazers have just invested consecutive first-round picks at the center spot, and he's on an expiring contract.
However, Williams' resurgent season has also proven why the Blazers initially targeted him in their first Jrue Holiday deal with the Celtics. When healthy, he's a perfect fit for their defensive identity. Better yet, he's also proven to be the ideal backup.
Clingan has gotten exposed out on the perimeter in specific matchups this season, making it essential for Portland to keep Williams for the defensive versatility he provides as someone better equipped to switch onto guards. In fact, Blazers analytics insider Tom Haberstroh mentioned in Portland's recent win over the Memphis Grizzlies that Williams is leading the league in blocks on the perimeter -- an even more impressive stat considering Time Lord averages just 16.4 minutes per game.
There's a case to be made for Portland to sell high on someone who is unfortunately more likely than not to deal with another injury at some point in his career. At the same time, that injury history combined with his expiring contract lowered his trade value. In other words, he's become more critical to Portland's roster compared to his value around the league. That already justifies their decision to hold onto him.
Whether or not they should sign him to a new deal this summer remains to be seen and could depend on the progress Hansen shows the rest of the season. But for now, Williams is going to make a significant impact in Portland's playoff race. That alone is worth holding onto for the remainder of the season, especially considering how little the Blazers would get in return if they did decide to trade him.