At this point, it feels more like a matter of when, not if, the Portland Trail Blazers part ways with Robert Williams III. The writing has been on the wall for a while now, but after another offseason of reshaping the frontcourt, it has become increasingly difficult to make the case that Williams will finish next season in Portland.
The Blazers have clearly begun prioritizing youth and upside at the center position. Between Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, Portland now has two promising long-term options anchoring the paint, and both are expected to get real developmental minutes in the upcoming season.
Clingan is the defensive anchor of the future, while Hansen may already be the more versatile offensive player of the two. Neither is a finished product yet, but both offer more timeline-aligned potential than Williams.
Meanwhile, Robert is entering the final year of his contract. He is still an impactful defender when healthy and could easily help a playoff team in need of interior presence. But the idea of him sticking around to split minutes with two young centers on a rebuilding team just does not make much sense for either party.
Williams is likely to be the team's next trade piece
The challenge with trading Williams has never been about talent, rather it's about availability. Health concerns have followed him throughout his career, and he has appeared in only 26 games over the course of the last two seasons since becoming a Blazer.
That said, front offices across the league know what he is capable of when he is actually on the floor. If he can stay upright for the first few months of the season, Portland might find itself fielding real offers before next February rolls around.
In a perfect world, the Blazers would be able to flip Williams for a late first-round pick or a couple of second-rounders. Even a young project player could be worth considering if it opens up more time for Hansen and Clingan. The organization is not in a rush to win right now, but they are in a race to develop their young core. The more minutes they can give to the future, the better.
That makes Williams the most obvious trade chip left on the roster, and probably the next guy to go.