The Portland Trail Blazers find themselves just two games out of the play-in race but are going to have to overcome adversity in order to make a run to finish out the season. The Blazers' frontcourt depth has been one of their strengths throughout the season, with four quality big men on their roster. However, their lack of available centers has increasingly become more of an issue with the latest injury updates.
Deandre Ayton has been sidelined since Feb. 10 with a left calf strain. Meanwhile, on Feb. 22, it was reported that Robert Williams III was dealing with swelling in his left knee. At the time, Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report said that the Blazers weren't certain whether or not it was a long-term issue, and they were being cautious with his return.
But now, the latest injury update surrounding Williams shows that this is, unfortunately, more of a long-term issue than everyone had hoped.
Robert Williams III is done for the season after left knee surgery
Williams will now miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to address inflammation in his left knee, according to Highkin. As he also notes, this surgery will shut down Williams for the remainder of the season.
Even the short end of that recovery timeline estimate would have Williams missing the week of the Play-In Tournament, should the Blazers make it. With Williams' second stint in Portland now cut short, he finishes the year averaging 5.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 17.6 minutes per game.
He's one of the most impactful big men on the defensive end when he's able to play and was finally back to looking like the Celtics version of himself, who was an All-Defensive level player. But Williams' knee issues sadly continue to hinder his career.
He finishes this season playing 20 games after playing just six the previous year before being shut down with season-ending surgery for a torn ligament in his right knee. For his career, Williams has now played more than 35 games in only two of his seven seasons.
Hopefully, this surgery will provide a fresh start for Williams to enter the 2025-26 season healthy. He's on the books for one more season with a $13.3 million salary. That deal would be a steal for Portland if he could play for a majority of the games. But unfortunately, that has turned into a big "if."